UEFA Takes Action After Racist Incident in Azerbaijan
European football's governing body, UEFA, has imposed a €5,000 (£4,379) fine on Azerbaijani club Qarabag following a distressing incident of racist abuse directed at Chelsea's youth players. The event occurred during a UEFA Youth League match at the Azersun Arena on November 5.
Match Paused as Abuse Reported
Chelsea's Under-19 side, who went on to win the match 5-0, saw play temporarily halted after Sol Gordon opened the scoring in the second half. The pause was initiated after an individual in the crowd subjected Chelsea players to racial abuse. The Blues' staff and players were praised for their swift and professional response, immediately reporting the incident to the match referee in line with official UEFA protocols.
In a powerful post-match statement, Chelsea FC underscored its commitment to diversity, stating: 'We are proud of the way our players and staff responded to the incident on the pitch... Chelsea Football Club is immensely proud of the diversity within our team and across our entire club and will continue to work with UEFA to ensure that those responsible for discriminatory behaviour in football are held accountable.'
Sanctions and Club Response
In addition to the financial penalty, UEFA has ordered that Qarabag's youth team play one match behind closed doors as a direct consequence of the 'racist and/or discriminatory behaviour of its supporters'. However, this stadium ban has been suspended for a probationary period of one year. Qarabag issued an apology for the incident, confirming it does not reflect the club's values and promising to conduct its own internal investigation.
This incident casts a shadow over what was otherwise a successful trip for Chelsea, whose senior team later played out a 2-2 draw with Qarabag. The youth team continues its strong campaign, currently sitting second in their Youth League group.
