Chelsea Fans Block Man from Boarding Train in Racially Charged Incident in Paris

A shocking video was released on Feb. 17 showing multiple Chelsea fans blocking a man from entering a train in what appeared to be a racially charged gesture. Authorities have ordered five Blues supporters to court in the aftermath of the event.

Continue for updates.

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Victim of Train Chants Discusses Chelsea's Offer of Tickets

Wednesday, March 11

Soulemayne S., the victim of Chelsea fans' racist chants, discussed the Blues' offer to attend a match, according to Sky Sports:

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"I won't go. They can't buy me with a little piece of paper. I'm not a child," Souleymane said. "I don't want to sit in that stadium next to those people who pushed me.

"I still hear the voices of those people who pushed me because of the colour of my skin. I can't go to work anymore. I live with racism but it's the first time I've had to go to a doctor to ask for pills to calm myself down." 

"

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Five Chelsea Fans Summoned to Court

Wednesday, Mar. 11

BBC Sport provided confirmation of the quintet's upcoming court date:

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Chelsea Fan Apologises, 'Condemns' Racist Behaviour

Monday, Feb. 23

Richard Barklie, one of the three men hunted by police in connection with the incident, previously issued an apology through his solicitor. Kevin Winters, the former policeman's representative, spoke on Barklie's behalf, per Sky Sports: 

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Pending formal engagement with police, our client is anxious to put on record his total abhorrence for racism and any activity associated with it.

As someone who has spent years working with disadvantaged communities in Africa and India he can point to a CV in human rights work, which undermines any suggestion he is racist.

Today a senior official in the World Human Rights Forum confirmed their support for him. He did not participate in racist chanting and singing and condemns any behaviour supporting that.

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Sky Sports notes Barklie was a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and is currently a director of the World Human Rights Forum, as well as previously working as a police officer in Northern Ireland.

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Mourinho, Terry Comment on Incident

Saturday, Feb. 21

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho and captain John Terry commented on the incident in a recent match programme, according to Rob Harris of the Associated Press and Garry Hayes of Bleacher Report: 

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Multiple Chelsea Fans Suspended 

Friday, Feb. 20

Chelsea released a statement about the suspension of fans following the incident in question:

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Chelsea Football Club has suspended a further two people from Stamford Bridge as a result of ongoing investigations into the incident on the Paris Metro on Tuesday evening. This makes a total of five to date.

If it is deemed there is sufficient evidence of their involvement in the incident, the club will issue banning orders for life.

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The Mirror supplied pictures of three of the fans being sought after here.

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Souleymane Offers Insight Into Incident

Friday, Feb. 20

Angelique Chrisafis of the Guardian offered Souleymane's take on the incident and how it has affected him:

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"Then one of them, a young man, made a hand gesture … to show that it’s white skin here, black skin has no right to get on.”

"Souleymane shook his head in disbelief. “Frankly, I was stunned. I didn’t know what to say. I was a French citizen who had left his office and wanted to get home, and foreigners were stopping me getting on a train to get home. This is 2015 … This talk of black skin or white skin, that’s something I don’t like. And I didn’t know why [it was happening].”

"What happened has left me really afraid."

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The London Evening Standard reported that Souleymane had turned down Chelsea's offer to come to a match:

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He said: "I appreciate Mr Mourinho's invitation, but I can't get my head around being in a stadium at the moment."

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Chrisafis also reported that "If identified and brought to trial, the suspects could face a three-year prison sentence and €45,000 fine."

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UN Issues Statement

Friday, Feb. 20

The Express Tribune reported a statement from UN human rights spokesman Rupert Colville:

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“We strongly condemn the racist behaviour of a group of Chelsea football fans during the build-up to a Champions League game in Paris on Tuesday,” Colville told reporters in Geneva.

“The fans were filmed singing a song that flaunted their racism and repeatedly preventing a French citizen of African descent from boarding the Paris metro by shoving him back onto the platform,” he said.

Colville recalled how his office has been involved in talks with football governing bodies FIFA and UEFA about how to “enhance the effort to drum racism out of football” after many racist incidents involving fans, especially inside stadiums.

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Chelsea Issue Official Apology for Incident

Friday, Feb. 20

Chelsea issued a formal apology to the victim of the train incident in Paris, according to Tom Adams of Eurosport: 

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"I'd like to make clear, on behalf of everyone at the club, our disgust at the incident. We were appalled by what we saw," a club spokesman said.

"The club would also like to apologise unreservedly to Souleymane for the behaviour of a small number of individuals and their unforgivable action towards him.

"We're writing to him to apologise and to invite him to come to a game as our guest."

A spokesman also said owner Abramovich, who never speaks publicly, was keen to stress he was “disgusted” by the events that were caught on film prior to the 1-1 draw in the French capital. 

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Chelsea Fans Block Man From Boarding Train

Tuesday, Feb. 17

The video shows Souleyman, who was travelling alone, attempting to board the train before being forcefully pushed back by multiple men, purportedly Chelsea supporters. The man and the crowd exchanged words as he unsuccessfully tried boarding the metro a number of times.

Fans are later heard shouting, "We're racist, we're racist and that's the way we like it" in unison. The man eventually walked away and seemingly attempted to board the train at another door when the citizen-shot video cut off.

UEFA released a statement on the situation, courtesy of BBC's Richard Conway:

French police confirmed that they were investigating the incident. The victim also responded shortly after the incident, per Metro's Sam Adams and Alex Richards, stating:

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I wanted to get into the car but a group of English fans blocking me and pushed me away. I tried to force the passage, I again tried to return. In the scramble, I lost my phone.

They told me things in English but I did not really understand the meaning of their words. I do not speak a word of English.

I understand also that they were attacking me because of the colour of my skin. You know, I live with racism, I was not really surprised by what happened to me even if it was a first in the subway.

These people, these English fans must be found, punished and must be enclosed. What happened should not go unpunished.

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Chelsea was quick to release a statement, condemning the group of people involved, via Daniel Taylor and Ben Quinn of The Guardian:

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Such behaviour is abhorrent and has no place in football or society. We will support any criminal action against those involved, and should evidence point to involvement of Chelsea season ticket holders or members the club will take the strongest possible action against them including banning orders.

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The FA released a statement supporting Chelsea:

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The FA fully supports Chelsea’s position in seeking to ban any of the club’s season-ticket holders or members who face criminal action in relation to these abhorrent scenes. 

The FA, like the club, completely condemn such disgraceful behaviour which is a criminal offence and those responsible should face the strongest possible punishment.

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FIFA President Sepp Blatter also revealed his thoughts:

Chelsea fan Mitchell McCoy defended his fellow fans, denying that the chant or the actions taken by Blues fans were racially motivated, according to a report from the Press Association (via BT Sport):

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The 17-year-old from Fulham in London told Press Association Sport: "I'm not in the video but I'm on the carriage. We got on the train and at the station where the man was trying to get on we stopped for a couple of minutes.

"He tried to get on and a few people were pushing him off because there wasn't much space on the carriage. You couldn't move.

"People were saying it was because he was black. It's not true at all. I personally think it's because he was a PSG fan. Obviously they didn't want him anywhere with us.

"That guy in the video tried to force himself on, so they pushed him off."

A chant of "We're racist and that's the way we like it" is clearly audible on the video, but McCoy contended it was not about the passenger.

He added: "That song was about John Terry. The only words I know is 'he's a racist, he's a racist' and I don't know the rest."

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McCoy also noted that the man wasn't the only person the fans denied entry to the train: 

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It wasn't just that one time that it happened. It wasn't just with the black people that we weren't letting on.

There was white people, women that people weren't allowing on. There was no space.

They were saying, "You can't get on this carriage, you have to go somewhere else."

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Kick It Out chairman Lord Herman Ouseley released a statement reacting to the video:

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We know that prejudice is on the increase and that in itself leads to hateful attitudes and this sort of conduct.

I was shocked that Chelsea fans were still behaving like this. I thought the club had made it quite clear and taken action about stopping any repetition, knowing Chelsea, how hard they’ve worked on these matters, with fans as well as players, that it was unlikely to occur.

The fact it involved an assault as well, of the individual that they pushed off the train, was even more shocking.

Clearly it sends out a strong signal to, not only Chelsea, but the whole of football, that you cannot be complacent and think the actions you’re taking are sufficient to deal with the scourge of racism, sexism, homophobia and anti-Semitism. We’ve got to do a lot more and not be complacent.

We’ll support any prosecution.

Anyone who can be identified, if they have an association with the club, the club said it will take the strongest action, which would include banning those people from going to Chelsea football matches.

I would hope it would extend to banning them from going to any football match.

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French journalist Peter Allen reported that Chelsea fans involved in the chanting could face three years in prison and a €45,000 fine, according to prosecutors. 

Chelsea has requested that witnesses of the incident come forward anonymously. 

This is far from the only incident involving Chelsea fans in Paris. Oliver Todd of the Daily Mail reported French police were forced to use teargas on upward of 200 supporters who were trying to force their way into Parc des Princes after the match started.

Chelsea were in Paris for the first leg of their round of 16 Champions League match with PSG on Tuesday. The two international powers tied 1-1. Chelsea are scheduled to host PSG at Stamford Bridge for the second leg on Tuesday.

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter