Chelsea deletes controversial Enzo Fernández post after Argentina star eliminates England from World Cup
Chelsea FC celebrated one of its own players in the World Cup semifinal, but the reaction sparked backlash immediately.
Chelsea FC found itself at the center of an unexpected World Cup controversy after the club deleted a social media post celebrating Enzo Fernández’s goal for Argentina against England.
The club meant it as a way of congratulating one of its players on scoring on soccer’s biggest stage. But the problem is, this was an English club. And that player was playing against England. Fernández’s goal came during Argentina’s dramatic semifinal comeback against England, helping send the Three Lions out of the tournament and booking Argentina’s place in the World Cup final.
With England supporters still processing the defeat, Chelsea’s decision to highlight the moment did not sit well with English fans.
Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández post sparks reaction
It was during Wednesday’s semifinal when Chelsea posted a message celebrating Fernández after he scored Argentina’s equalizer in the 2-1 victory. The midfielder’s goal changed the momentum of the match, setting up Argentina’s late winner and another World Cup final appearance for Lionel Messi’s team.
However, the reaction from some Chelsea supporters was immediate. The club has a large English fanbase, and many fans were unhappy to see the team publicly celebrate a goal that contributed to England’s elimination.
The post was later removed from Chelsea’s social media accounts, according to reports. Chelsea has not publicly explained the decision to delete the post.
The reaction was about more than just a single goal. Fernández is one of Chelsea’s most recognizable players, but his time at Stamford Bridge has included controversy. The Argentina midfielder was involved in an incident after Argentina’s Copa América celebrations in 2024 that led to accusations of offensive chanting, resulting in an apology from Fernández and a suspension from Chelsea.
The midfielder has also been linked with speculation about his long-term future at the club, including reported interest from Real Madrid, although Fernández remains under contract with Chelsea.
Since joining Chelsea from Benfica in 2023 for a British-record transfer fee at the time, Fernández has become one of the most important midfielders in both club and international soccer.
Chelsea’s post was likely intended as a normal show of support for a player representing his country. However, the emotional nature of World Cup knockout matches means that a celebration involving a player from the winning team can easily become controversial among supporters of the losing side. Fernández will now turn his attention toward the World Cup final with Argentina. They will face Spain in the final on Sunday, July 19.
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