Chelsea took a strong stand against racism in European youth football. The English club reported that several of its players were subjected to racist insults and gestures during their UEFA Youth League match against Qarabag on Wednesday.
The game ended with a dominant 5–0 victory for the London side. However, the celebration of the opening goal, scored by Sol Gordon, was marred by controversy. According to the BBC, several Qarabag fans made monkey noises and offensive gestures toward Chelsea players, forcing the referee to temporarily stop the match.
The club demands a UEFA investigation
As reported by Mundo Deportivo, Chelsea’s players immediately complained to the referee and called for action against the fans’ behavior. Shortly after, the club released a firm statement: “We are aware of an incident that occurred on Wednesday during the Youth League when, after scoring, several of our players were racially abused by an individual in the crowd. Racism and all forms of discriminatory behavior are completely unacceptable and have no place in football or society. We condemn this action.”
🚨🔵 | 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: Chelsea’s youth players suffered racist abuse this afternoon in their victory over Qarabag.
Qarabag have apologized and an investigation is UNDERWAY. ⌛️[@NizaarKinsella] pic.twitter.com/EfSd4gKKPu
— MatchdayHQ (@TheMatchdayHQ) November 5, 2025
Chelsea confirmed that it has filed an official complaint with UEFA and will fully support its players while the case is investigated. From London, the club’s management reaffirmed its commitment to promoting tolerance and respect both on and off the pitch.
For its part, Qarabag issued a public apology, stating that such behavior does not reflect the club’s values. The Azerbaijani side promised to identify the perpetrator and confirmed it is cooperating with authorities to clarify the incident.
This episode adds to a growing list of recent cases that highlight the persistent challenge of racism in European football. Chelsea hopes its complaint will strengthen UEFA’s protocols and prevent young players from enduring similar experiences in the future.
