Enzo Fernandez joined up with the rest of his Chelsea teammates on tour in the USA yesterday, coming face-to-face for the first time with (some of) those whom he (and his Argentina teammates) hurt with their racist chanting after their Copa America final win.
While Enzo had posted a public apology - still uniquely among those who were on the bus - and also sent private messages to his teammates before, this was finally a chance to come together in person and talk things out.
As per head coach Enzo Maresca, these chats have gone about as well as we could have hoped in order to maintain team harmony, professionalism, and cooperation for the season ahead. The events have been chalked up to a mistake, and while we haven't actually heard from either Wesley Fofana or Axel Disasi or any of our other French contingent yet, there seems to be a clear desire to move beyond this and focus on football.
New: Chelsea close internal disciplinary process regarding Enzo Fernandez racism case @PA understands. Player understood to have made a 'significant' contribution to a charity via the Chelsea Foundation. He also immediately apologised to #CFC team-mates on arrival in Atlanta. 1/2
- Jamie Gardner (@PAJamieGardner) July 30, 2024 I suppose that's fair enough, if that's truly what we all want to do. Simmering resentment isn't exactly a good foundation for a successful season.
"Most of the time, we [would] say it's an internal thing. But [so that] there is no mystery: the meeting was between me, Enzo, a few players to clarify the situation. [...] Wes was there. They spoke with each other.
"It is normal sometimes that the first reaction is not always good when they argue, the first interaction is not good. But thinking about it a little bit, day after day, you can understand that there was not any bad intention because they know Enzo better than me. They know Enzo is a good guy."
"[We] all make mistakes. We have to be good to apologise because sometimes we struggle even to apologise. Enzo apologised already four or five times. They have all accepted it. [...] Since last night the situation is completely normal. Everyone is speaking with each other, everyone is laughing."
Everyone is singing kumbaya.
Enzo Fernandez is back in training with Chelsea having immediately apologised in person after returning to Atlanta.- He'll make a meaningful contribution to an anti-discrimination charity.- Chelsea will match this via their Foundation.- Reece James and Axel Disasi involved... pic.twitter.com/FWsBGL5k56
- Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) July 30, 2024 To illustrate further, it would appear that Enzo will not face any further disciplinary (or even educative) action from the club after all, despite our stated intention to make this a learning opportunity if nothing else. I guess what we learned is that you just have to make a large donation?
"To be honest, I don't know [about the internal investigation]. The only thing I can say is the club did a statement, the player did a statement days ago. The player has arrived here, had a chat with his teammates, had a chat with us and now the situation looks completely normal, like before."
-Enzo Maresca; source: Football.London
Levi Colwill, who was the player selected for press conference duty, echoed these general sentiments, just like Reece James did last week.
"Definitely [his apology was accepted]. We're a team. Everything that happens is between us. We're looking forward to have a good season.
"All the players understand Enzo is a good person and works well for the team. We move on from there at the moment. We all know what person Enzo is. I've worked with him for a year. We know he is a good person. That's it, really."
-Levi Colwill; source: talkSport
Happily ever after!