When the video of Enzo Fernandez celebrating with his Argentina team-mates after winning the Copa America went viral, the player undoubtedly realised he’d made an error of judgment.
Alleged racism within the words of a song he was chanting quickly got used against him on social media, and come Chelsea players are believed to have been offended by the content.
Although it’s expected that Enzo Maresca will try and ensure that his first-team quickly move on from the matter, he may find that Fernandez’s team-mates are less forgiving.
Chelsea could have a problem after Enzo Fernandez video scandal
Former agent, Jon Smith, believes that the reaction to the footage is symptomatic of today’s world.
“In today’s society you can’t say what you want, you have to say what is acceptable to the world in general,” he said to CaughtOffside for his exclusive column.
“Enzo Fernandez’s words were critical of somebody’s heritage as I saw them. Not nice but not overly offensive either, and the fact that everybody jumped on it made it a lot worse.
“I think is that symptomatic of the times we’re living in. Very often what you say in one sentence these days means you end up in the hangman’s noose, even though what the player probably wanted to infer was a much more placid comment than an offensive racist remark.
“I’m not saying this was right from him, but I think the lesson to be learned is twofold.
“Firstly, be very, very cautious on what you say publicly.
“I’ve been on team buses with players who’ve won a big game, the energy levels are so high and they say and do things that are just spontaneous. I think you have to manage that spontaneity these days.
“Secondly, and if I was advising a client of mine who’d been offended, I would advise him or her to make one comment saying ‘I’m disappointed. I’m sad. I love where I come from, and I’m very proud of it.’ Finish, end of story. Don’t make the situation worse.
“If you are the injured party, you make one constructive comment and move on.”
Though Smith appears to be making a well intentioned summary, if you are the offended party, then simply having your agent tell you not to make any further comment isn’t going to cut it.
Racism, alleged or proven, has got…
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