TORONTO – A group of Chelsea fans were captured on video preventing a black man from boarding a Paris subway car before the Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain Tuesday.
Amateur video shows the man attempting to board the crowded train only to be pushed back by the group of soccer fans, who could be heard chanting “Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea” before pushing the man.
The group then chanted, “we’re racist, we’re racist, and that’s the way we like it,” in front of the man and a black woman standing on the station platform.
Another passenger, a black woman, then steps off the train.
Chelsea Football Club addressed Tuesday’s incident.
“Such behaviour is abhorrent and has no place in football or society,” the club said in a statement. ” We will support any criminal action against those involved in such behaviour, and should evidence point to the involvement of Chelsea season ticket holders or members the club will take the strongest possible action against them including banning orders.”
According to British Press Association, Scotland Yard said it will “examine” the video of the incident.
“We will examine the footage with a view to seeing if we can apply for football banning orders, preventing people from travelling from future matches,” A Scotland Yard spokesman said. “We will, of course, assist French authorities to identify the people involved and support them in any action they choose to take.”
FIFA president Sepp Blatter condemned the actions of the group of Chelsea fans saying “there is no place for racism in football.”
–with a file from The Associated Press
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