Kenedy is sent home for slurs
CHELSEA defender Kenedy has been sent home from the club’s pre-season tour of Asia following the outrage caused in China by his social media posts.
The Premier League champions have moved quickly in a bid to ease the tension caused by the incident.
They had previously issued an apology after admitting Instagram posts by Brazilian Kenedy had caused “great offence and hurt the feelings of the people of China”.
Kenedy, 21, posted the messages ahead of the friendly against Arsenal in Beijing last Saturday and was jeered during Chelsea’s 3-0 win. He put two videos on Instagram, one with a caption which translated as “**** you China” and another of a security guard asleep tagged: “Wake up China. You idiot.”
Chinese fans accused Kenedy of xenophobia and racism, leading to an apology from the player, who quickly deleted the posts. “I would like to apologise to the people of China for the offence I have caused,” he wrote. “It was never my intention to insult or offend anyone at all and I now realise that my comments were totally inappropriate.
“I have tremendous respect and admiration for the Chinese people and their country.
“I would also like to apologise to Chelsea and all my companions who I have let down by my posts.”
The incident could also leave Kenedy’s future at Stamford Bridge in jeopardy.
Alvaro Morata helped set up a goal on his Chelsea debut but could not prevent a 3-2 friendly defeat by Bayern Munich in Singapore yesterday.
The £60million signing from Real Madrid came on as a second-half substitute with his new side trailing by two goals and teed up Michy Batshuayi for his fifth goal of pre-season.