Chelsea take no action against Enzo Fernández after charity donation

Chelsea will take no action against Enzo Fernández over a racially offensive chant after the player made a voluntary contribution to an anti-discrimination charity.

The 23-year-old posted a video of himself and some Argentina teammates singing a derogatory song about French players of African origin in the wake of his side’s Copa América victory this month.

Fernández is understood to have apologised face to face to his teammates in Atlanta on Monday, where Chelsea are preparing for a Wednesday night friendly against the Mexican side Club América. The apology is understood to have been accepted.

The player also voluntarily offered to make what sources said was a “significant” contribution to a charity tackling and educating about discrimination. The beneficiary of the contribution is still to be decided, but it is understood it will be made via the Chelsea Foundation. The club have also committed to matching Fernández’s contribution to the foundation.

The internal disciplinary process has therefore concluded and the club and playing squad consider the matter closed, sources said.

Fernández first apologised via social media two weeks ago and has been in what sources described as constant contact with members of the Chelsea squad since, but Monday represented his first opportunity to apologise face to face, which he did immediately upon arrival in the United States.

It is understood Reece James and Axel Disasi have been the lead figures in the consultation process with the playing squad. The France international Wesley Fofana was also part of the group to which Fernández made a collective apology. Fofana had referenced Fernández’s video in a social media post and described it as “uninhibited racism”.

Chelsea declined to comment. Fernández still faces the possibility of a sanction from football’s world governing body Fifa, which continues to investigate the matter.