New Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has reacted to the offensive video footage posted by the club’s midfielder Enzo Fernández after his country won the Copa America in mid-July 2024.
In a recent interview with sports journalists in the United States, the coach who spoke after the club arrived for its preseason camp, downplayed the incident suggesting that the circumstance had not done anything to the motivation of players and their stuck to unity in the dressing room.
“I don’t think there are any bad intentions behind [it], so starting from that point, for me it is quite easy. The player already did a statement apologising. The club did the same so there are not many things to add, but the only thing I can say from my point of view is that they are all young with good intentions. Good guy, good person, good human being. There was not any bad intention.”
The video clip saw Enzo and his Argentine teams chanting what has been seen as offensive against the French national team.
Following its release, the video which got several reactions from his team’s mates forced him to offer a public apology. Reacting to the clip his French teammates such Wesly Fofana and Malo Gutso unfollowed the Agentine on social media.
On a positive note, his teammate Nicholas Jackson defended the player sharing a clip of Enzo with a young black child which suggests that the play has not had a thought of being a racist in the past. Other players have also shared posts on social media to show their support for the midfielder.
Though it looks uncertain what the club’s decision will be, Enzo who is currently on holiday will be billed to join his teammates in the United States for preseason games before the start of the new season.
In a short statement offered earlier by the club, they noted that the apology by the player will be used to educate others about its non-tolerance to racism.
“We acknowledge and appreciate our player’s public apology and will use this as an opportunity to educate.”
The club captain Reece Jame has acknowledged the difficulty in the situation and indicated that he has moderated between the offender and all teammates who found the video offensive.
“It’s obviously a really difficult situation. I think Enzo (Fernandez) quickly acknowledged he did wrong, put his hand up and apologised to the club, the team and the people offended,” said the Blues right-back.
