Chelsea captain James hoping Fernandez talks will eradicate squad tension

Reece James admits the race row that threatens to disrupt the start of Chelsea’s season is a “really difficult situation” but hopes face-to-face talks will help them “move forward”.

Enzo Fernandez’s posting of a video on social media shortly after Argentina’s Copa America win over Colombia on July 14 ignited the issue as it questioned the heritage of France’s black and mixed-race players.

And although he apologised, both FIFA and Chelsea have launched investigations, the former on the back of a complaint from the French Football Federation.

The 23-year-old will have some bridges to rebuild in the Stamford Bridge dressing room as well with his Chelsea team-mate Wesley Fofana describing the video as “uninhibited racism”, while it has also been reported the club’s other French players are equally unhappy.

It is an unwanted problem for new boss Enzo Maresca and captain James is aware there could be tension when Fernandez joins up with the squad on Monday on their pre-season tour of the United States.

He told ESPN: “Of course, there’s always the factor where it doesn’t sit right with people when there could be a problem.

“But until the day comes where everyone’s together and in a room together, I don’t know, but I hope things can be resolved smoothly and we can move forward with the season.

“It’s a really difficult situation. There’s no room for racism or discrimination in football. I think he quickly put his hand up and acknowledged he’d done wrong and apologised to his team-mates, the club and the rest of the people that were offended. I think that was probably the best he could have done in that situation.

“I spoke to him a bit, but it was hard because we were on different time zones. [It was] just a general chat really. His views on what happened and him trying to explain his situation and how things happened.”

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James has been hampered by injury problems over the past two seasons but says he is now “free again” and looking forward to the new campaign.

He added: “There were times before where I would think, ‘Can I do this? Can I do that?’ When you have that doubt, you don’t feel full confidence. Most recently, I’ve definitely felt like that fear’s gone and I feel free again.”

Like James, Fofana has struggled with injury and missed the whole of the 2023-24 season after rupturing his cruciate ligament last summer.

He and Romeo Lavia – who made just one appearance last season due to ankle and hamstring problems – returned for Chelsea’s first pre-season game against Wrexham and Maresca was delighted to have them back.

He told the club’s official website: “Both of them are very important. In this moment it is very important for them to get minutes and not lose any training sessions.

“I am especially happy for them because for one year without any minutes, it is difficult for them mentally so they need to now boost their energy and 45 minutes will help both of them.

“Hopefully we can soon have them both 100 per cent fit and they can start to play 90 minutes.”