Chelsea have to make a big decision regarding Enzo Fernandez: his teammates will never see him the same way again
Darren Bent believes the relationship between Enzo Fernandez and members of the Chelsea squad has been irreparably damaged.
This comes after Fernandez shared a video of Argentine players singing a racist and discriminatory chant directed at French players, after The success of the national team in the Copa America on Sunday.
Both Chelsea and FIFA have started an investigation in the chant that was first sung by Argentine fans at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but which was later adopted by members of the playing team.
The song, which references French players of African descent, has been condemned by several of his Chelsea teammates, including Wesley Fofana, who posted the video alongside the caption: “uninhibited racism.”
Fofana, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashille and Malo Gusto have since unfollowed Fernandez on social media, as have Lesley Ugochukwu, Christopher Nkunku and Malang Sarr.
David Datro Fofana, for his part, shared a message declaring that “these acts have no place in football.”
In an Instagram post on Wednesday afternoon, the Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker said: “The football I like is multi-ethnic.
“Racism in all its forms must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.
“These acts have no place in football or anywhere else. This fight must be taken seriously by all those involved in this sport.”
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Fernandez has since apologised for the “highly offensive language” used in the video, but his statement posted on Instagram on Tuesday says he is unlikely to resolve tensions with his Chelsea teammates any time soon.
Former Aston VillaCharlton, Tottenham and Sunderland striker Bent shared his own experiences of racist abuse while criticising Fernandez's performances during a television broadcast last season.
“I remember doing a programme a couple of months ago about Enzo's situation at Chelsea and how he'd played and there was a comment about not thinking he'd been good enough,” Bent told talkSPORT.
“I went to sleep and when I woke up I was met with a barrage of racist comments. I wasn’t referring to his personality or him as a character, but simply to him as a player. I can’t explain the amount of insults I received.”
Commenting on the video in question, Bent added: “It’s not a good reflection for Enzo Fernandez at all, it really isn’t.
“Before Wesley Fofana posted that post on social media, I hope they (Chelsea teammates) would have contacted him first and asked him 'what are you playing?'
“But they will never look at him the same way again, regardless of whether he apologizes and says he should never have done this.
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“Even if he stands there in front of his Chelsea team-mates and says 'I'm deeply sorry for what I did', they'll never look at him the same way again.
“At this moment, he is the one who is presenting the video. It is quite clear that this is not the first time he has sung this song and it is not the first time they (the Argentine national team) have sung this song because everyone is happy, everyone is singing and everyone is joyful because they just won the Copa America.
“But at the same time, in that relaxed environment and with things as easy as they were, his teammates will never trust him in the same way again.”
After a challenging couple of years on and off the pitch at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea booked their return to European football following a late-season winning streak.
With new boss Enzo Maresca in charge and a feel-good factor beginning to permeate the club, the latest unwelcome issue could open a big rift in the squad.
Bent sympathises with Chelsea's French contingent and says Chelsea now have a big decision to make on how to approach the issue.
“I don't think he (Fernandez) can get out of this,” Bent said. “He's probably more relaxed than ever because he just won another big honor and that's when the loose mouth comes out, the free-flowing speech and that's when you sometimes see what a person is really like.
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“I don't think I can just walk back into the dressing room and I honestly think Chelsea have to make a big decision because this will affect them in the future.
“If you're one of the France players, you're waiting for Chelsea to do something about it because it almost tells you which side of the fence they're sitting on.
“If they come out and say we'll fine him and let it go, I wouldn't be happy about that at all.
“That's not supporting me, it's almost like they're hiding it. We've already seen pathetic fines from UEFA and FIFA, but they're useless.”
“There are black players in that dressing room. It’s right that people hide behind campaigns and slogans saying that as a football club we don’t tolerate racism. Now they have the chance to lead by example.”
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Asked what the punishment for the Argentine should be, Bent said: “I want to see a tough line, I'm not saying get rid of him. There may be no way he'll come back, but I want something real to be done.
“I don't want to see a fine, I don't want to see blank statements saying they need education. I need to see severe punishment.
“There has to be some kind of sanction,” he added. “There has to be something more than a fine. There is no way I can go back to training and start playing and have everything be fine.”
