It’s hard times at Stamford Bridge for one of Chelsea’s major talents after the Premier League club offered him counselling. Teenage sensation, Callum Hudson-Odoi, was made the offer following the racist abuse he has suffered from two times over the past 11 days which should be some of the happiest days of his life.
Hudson-Odoi had helped the Blues into the quarter-final of the Europa League with an applauded display while also getting called up to the senior national team of England afterwards, going on to make his full debut against Montenegro.
The London club reported that the 18-year-old heard monkey chants during Chelsea’s 5-0 UEFA Europa League thrashing of Dynamo Kiev on March 14, which European football governing body, UEFA, is now investigating.
Also, Hudson-Odoi was one of several players of the England national team who were abused during the 5-1 win in a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying match against Montenegro on Monday.
After that match, England boss Gareth Southgate has also been in touch with the player. The game was Hudson-Odoi’s full England debut, with the winger describing the unfortunate experience from the abuse he received as “unacceptable”.
Manchester City star Raheem Sterling as well as Tottenham Hotspur full back, Danny Rose, were also targeted. Sterling has previously suffered similar abuse when Man. City fell to a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season.
However, it is understood that Hudson-Odoi is managing the experience as well as he can. Regardless, Chelsea are not taking any chances on their cherished jewel as they insist he will be offered a range of support if he needs it.
Meanwhile, UEFA said “disciplinary proceedings” had been opened against Montenegro with one charge for “racist behaviour”.
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Hudson-Odoi said after the Euro 2020 qualifier: “When you are hearing stuff like that from the fans, it is not right and it is unacceptable. Hopefully UEFA deal with it properly. When me and Rosey went over there, they were saying ‘ooh aa aa’ monkey stuff – we just have to keep our heads and keep a strong mentality.”
On his part, the head coach of England, Gareth Southgate, who revealed the England players already have a lack of trust for the system which handles such situations and as a result, do not really feel the need to report such cases, said: “We have to make sure our players feel supported, they know the dressing room is there and we as a group of staff are there for them.”
