Racism victim turns down Jose’s offer as fresh furore probed
SOULEYMANE S, the man who suffered racist abuse from Chelsea supporters as they denied him entry to a train on the Paris Metro, has declined Jose Mourinho’s invitation to Stamford Bridge, as police investigate a separate incident at St Pancras station.
Police have appealed for witnesses after reports of racist chanting at St Pancras by fans returning from France after Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
This second incident happened on Wednesday evening as the club were reacting with shock and disgust at the footage of the first, which showed a group of fans singing: “We’re racist and that’s the way we like it,” as they pushed Souleymane off the train.
‘I appreciate Mr Mourinho’s invitation but I can’t get my head around being in a stadium at the moment,’ Souleymane told French newspaper Le Parisien, after the Chelsea manager had offered him the chance to see the second leg of the Champions League tie on March 11.
Souleymane received a phone call from France’s president Francois Hollande after the attack and PSG have also been in touch.
Chelsea have suspended five fans from Stamford Bridge pending further investigation and British Transport Police are investigating an incident at St Pancras, reported by a traveller who had been on the Eurostar with Chelsea fans.
Superintendent Gill Murray said: ‘Racist chanting was reported by a member of the public who was disgusted by the behaviour of the men who had travelled on the 6.40pm service from Paris Gare du Nord.
‘Unfortunately there is still a minority who think it is acceptable to behave in such an abhorrent manner. There is more that needs to be done to publicly condemn this type of behaviour and British Transport Police is actively working with football clubs, the football authorities and other key agencies to tackle this appalling behaviour.’
Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck wrote a column in the match programme yesterday and said: ‘The people involved in that incident in Paris do not represent Chelsea Football Club and they do not stand for the values of this club and they have no place at this club.
‘This has been echoed loud and clear by the vast majority of Chelsea supporters.’