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Chelsea condemn ‘inappropriate’ anti-Ferdinand chants

Comment: 0 November 3rd, 2011 by: admin

Chelsea FC publicly reprimanded supporters for chants against Queens Park Rangers’ Anton Ferdinand during the Blues’ match last Tuesday.

The incident, which occurred during Chelsea’s Champions League match at the Cristal Arena against Belgian squad Genk, involved a group of Blues fans heard chanting ‘Anton Ferdinand, you know what you are.’

The taunts were seen to be a misled way of showing support for Blues captain John Terry, currently under FA investigation over allegedly making racist remarks against Ferdinand.

Following the event, the English squad made a public statement condemning the taunts of their own supporters.

‘The chanting last night by a vocal minority was wholly inappropriate, said a spokesperson for the club, ‘and Chelsea Football Club does not condone such behaviour.’

The club furthered to state that they will be launching a thorough enquiry on the matter in order to identify the individuals involved in the chanting.

‘We will be working with the appropriate authorities to seek out those responsible,’ the club said.  ‘Chelsea FC believes – as we are sure do the vast majority of our fans – that all forms of discrimination are abhorrent and have no place in our society.’

According to the statement, the chants came from a minority of Chelsea supporters who the club insisted ‘do not represent what supporting Chelsea Football Club is all about.’

Reports indicate that the club is set to avoid any possible sanction from governing body UEFA regarding the incident, which was said to have not been included in any of the official match reports.

When asked about his comments regarding the taunts, Chelsea manager Andre Villas-boas said he was not aware of the chants.

‘I was concentrating on the game,’ said the Portuguese.  ‘I have nothing to say on that.’

The incident also placed the club under fire as Kick It Out, an organisation working to eliminate racism in football, has demanded that Chelsea issue an apology to anyone who might have been offended by the chants.

‘As will all incidents of abuse in European competition, it is under the jurisdiction of UEFA to determine whether action will be taken,’ stated organisation chair Lord Herman Ouseley.

‘There is also a duty and obligation for Chelsea to do likewise.  We’d urge the club to warn supporters of their conduct before future fixtures, look to identify who was involved, and apologise to Anton Ferdinand on behalf of supporters everywhere who found the chant deplorable.’

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