Chelsea Apology to Paris Metro Victim Underlines Effective Reaction to Racism

Jose Mourinho says he is "ashamed" by the alleged racist behaviour of Chelsea fans on the Paris Metro this week.

Speaking at his weekly press conference, the Chelsea boss was addressing the media for the first time since the incident that had seen a group of travelling supporters appear to prevent a black passenger from boarding a Metro train before singing racist songs aimed at him.

The incident has been condemned across the globe and showed Chelsea in the worst possible light, with the victim, Souleymane S, calling for those involved to be "punished" and "locked up," per Le Parisien (via BBC News).

It was a dark moment in the history of Chelsea Football Club and Mourinho was right when he unequivocally condemned the actions of those involved.

That's where the manager's shame should end, however.

The way the club and Blues fans have reacted to the incident has been exemplary and rather than ashamed, anyone connected with Chelsea should be feeling a sense of pride.

Chelsea had no control over the behaviour of their fans in Paris. What they did have was the ability to put things right and in the days since Tuesday's appalling events, they have gone some way to doing that.

It was announced on Thursday that three fans suspected of involvement have been suspended from Stamford Bridge pending further inquiries. Meanwhile, Mourinho also confirmed the club has invited Souleymane S and his family to the return leg of their Champions League tie with Paris Saint-Germain on March 11.

"I felt ashamed when I knew what happened, but I'm a proud Chelsea Football Club manager because I know what the club is and these people don't represent the club," Mourinho said.

He added: "We are writing to the man to apologise and will be asking him to come to the club with his family as our guest."

Chelsea have wasted little time to act.

The tone of Friday's press conference tells us all we need to know about how the club is dealing with this. The action has been swift and it's clear the Chelsea hierarchy understands there is a long way to go before this whole sorry affair can be put to bed.

Chelsea are far from resting on their laurels, and it sends out the right message. Those purporting to be fans of the club can behave however they like, but racism and other such behaviour will not be tolerated at the club.

Those "fans" who travelled to Paris aren't going to be welcomed to Stamford Bridge.

"

Jose supports the idea of the victim coming to one of our games.so he can feel what Chelsea is really about. #CFC

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 20, 2015"

"These people don't belong to Chelsea Football Club. Our club has no space for these people," Mourinho continued.

The Chelsea boss was put in the unenviable position of playing politician on Friday. He was representing everybody connected with the club, and with the eyes of the world fixed firmly upon him, his sincerity outlined just how deep the feeling of shock runs in west London.

He hasn't taken this lightly, nor has anybody else connected with the club.

A Chelsea spokesman also read out a statement before Mourinho's press conference started, explaining the thoughts of Roman Abramovich, saying "the owner, the board and everybody at Chelsea Football Club, we would like to make it clear our disgust" at the incident.

They've also made it clear that Chelsea is a club that's fit and proper when it comes to dealing with discrimination.

A small group of fans made a dangerous statement on Tuesday, but Chelsea has set the precedent in dealing with them.

Read the Chelsea statement on the Paris Metro incident in full here.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes