Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana has explained how the Blues dressing room has recovered from its divisions after Enzo Fernandez was filmed singing a “racist” chant aimed at France’s players.
The Frenchman was one of the most vocal critics of the midfielder’s actions, which were inadvertently caught on live television during Argentina’s raucous celebrations following their Copa America triumph.
Fofana accused Fernandez of “uninhibited racism”, while other Blues players unfollowed the Stamford Bridge star on social media. Immediately after joining his teammate on tour in the United States, the £106.8m signing apologised to his colleagues in person.
He had been in constant contact with the players since apologising publicly and privately and Fofana opened up to these discussions and insisted that reconciliation had been achieved.
“It was resolved very well,” he said. Free foot“He came back and we had a conversation with the club, with the coach; we had a meeting. We explained to him why we took it badly, because it was important for him to understand why it was not good for him to do it and why we took it badly.”
Wesley Fofana has opened up on how the Chelsea dressing room was able to bounce back over the summer
Enzo Fernandez was quick to apologise to his Chelsea teammates for offending them during his absence from Argentina.
Fofana reposted the video via X along with the words: ‘Football in 2024: Uninhibited racism’
‘We explained it to him. We understood from his speech that he did not understand that he could have hurt us. He did not understand that it was something serious.’
Fernandez volunteered to make a contribution to an anti-discrimination charity in recognition of his error in judgement, which impressed his bosses at the Blues.
Fofana, who revealed he contemplated leaving west London over the summer, has emerged as key to new boss Enzo Maresca’s defence after recovering from a knee injury that ruled him out for the entirety of the 2023-24 campaign.
He has played 90 minutes in all three of the Blues’ Premier League games so far this season, alongside Fernandez as they have made a strong start under the Italian.
The 23-year-old added: ‘The best thing you can do is educate him to make him understand that certain things, in certain countries, may be acceptable in that country but in others they are very serious and punishable by law.
“I think he understood it and now we’re going to move forward. We’re a team and he’s a great player. He’s an example, so I hope he’s an example in a good way for everyone.”
Enzo Maresca’s side travel to the south coast on Saturday evening to take on an in-form Bournemouth side.
Chelsea return to Premier League action against Bournemouth on Saturday evening, hoping to record their second win of the season.
Saturday night’s clash at Vitality could see transfer window signing Jadon Sancho make his debut for the club.