European football's governing body has taken decisive action against Azerbaijani club Qarabag after their supporters directed racist abuse toward Chelsea's young players during a UEFA Youth League match earlier this month.
Match Incident and Immediate Response
The disturbing events unfolded in Baku on November 27, 2025, during Chelsea's Youth League fixture against Qarabag. The match was temporarily suspended after Chelsea player Sol Gordon scored the opening goal in the 58th minute.
Home supporters appeared to direct racist gestures toward Chelsea's players, causing visible distress among the young squad. The Blues' players immediately raised their concerns with Ukrainian referee Dmytro Kubriak, who halted proceedings to consult with both teams' coaching staff.
Despite the unsettling incident, play eventually resumed, with Chelsea's under-19s demonstrating remarkable professionalism to secure a commanding 5-0 victory. The comprehensive win was sealed by a double from Jesse Derry and additional goals from Mheuka and Frankie Runham.
UEFA's Disciplinary Action
Following a thorough investigation, UEFA's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) has imposed significant sanctions on Qarabag FK Youth.
The Azerbaijani club has been fined €5,000 (approximately £4,379) for the racist behaviour of their supporters. Additionally, they have been ordered to play their next UEFA youth competition match behind closed doors.
However, the stadium ban remains suspended for a probationary period of one year, meaning it will only be enforced if further incidents occur within that timeframe.
In their official statement, UEFA confirmed: "The CEDB has decided to fine Qarabağ FK Youth €5,000 and to order Qarabağ FK Youth to play its next one UEFA competition match as host club behind closed doors, for the racist and/or discriminatory behaviour of its supporters."
Club Responses and Commitment to Change
Both clubs issued statements addressing the incident, with Qarabag expressing regret over the behaviour of their supporter.
"We are sorry about this incident," a Qarabag spokesperson stated. "It does not reflect the values of our club. We will investigate it thoroughly."
Chelsea released a comprehensive statement condemning the abuse and praising their players' response: "Racism and all forms of discriminatory behaviour are completely unacceptable and have no place in football or indeed in society."
The London club emphasised their pride in their diverse team and commitment to working with UEFA to ensure those responsible for discriminatory behaviour are held accountable.
Chelsea also commended their players and staff for handling the situation professionally, swiftly reporting the incident to match officials in line with UEFA protocols.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about racism in football, particularly at youth level, and demonstrates UEFA's continued efforts to address discriminatory behaviour through formal disciplinary procedures.
