September 12th 2024.
The Football Association has decided not to punish Enzo Fernandez, despite his involvement in a controversial incident after Argentina's win in the Copa America. On the other hand, Tottenham's Rodrigo Bentancur has been charged by the FA for his remarks about Son Heung-min, the club's captain.
Bentancur's comments were made in an interview on Uruguayan television, where he made a derogatory statement about people from South Korea. He later apologized for his words, but the FA still decided to take action and he could face a 12-game ban. Meanwhile, many were expecting Fernandez to also face consequences for his actions after he posted a video on Instagram of himself and his teammates singing a racist and transphobic chant aimed at the France national team.
The chant, which was first sung by Argentina fans during the 2022 World Cup, makes vile references to the French players' nationality and a rumored relationship between Kylian Mbappe and a transgender model. The video, recorded just hours after Argentina's victory, caused outrage among Fernandez's Chelsea teammates. However, the FA cannot take action against him due to a technicality in disciplinary procedures.
As a participant in English football, Fernandez falls under the jurisdiction of the FA. However, since the video was recorded while he was on international duty, it is the responsibility of FIFA and CONEMBOL, the governing body of South America. This is the same technicality that allowed Manchester City's Rodri to escape punishment from the FA for his comments about Gibraltar during Spain's Euro 2024 celebrations.
Bentancur's case is different, as he had not been released by Tottenham for international fixtures. Therefore, the FA can consider it an internal matter and take action against him. As a result, he has been banned for one match by UEFA.
In the aftermath of the scandal, Enzo Maresca, Chelsea's manager, has controversially made Fernandez the team captain. This decision has faced criticism, with some, like Ian Wright, calling it embarrassing. However, Maresca has defended his choice, stating that everyone makes mistakes and it's important to acknowledge them and move on. He also added that Fernandez has recognized his error and is still a valuable player and leader for the team.
Overall, the incident has caused a stir and raised questions about the FA's jurisdiction over players' actions while on international duty. Despite the controversies, Fernandez is still a key player for Chelsea and his manager has shown his support for him. As for Bentancur, he will have to face the consequences of his words and learn from his mistake.
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