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Chelsea announce two more people have been suspended over Paris Metro incident

Club made a statement on their website

Tom Sheen
Friday 20 February 2015 19:49 GMT
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Chelsea fans refused to allow the commuter to board the carriage
Chelsea fans refused to allow the commuter to board the carriage

Chelsea have announced they have suspended a further two people from Stamford Bridge as a result of investigations into the incident on the Paris Metro on Tuesday evening.

Three people have already been suspended as the west London club continues its investigation into an incident that saw fans racially abuse French-Mauritian Souleymane S, blocking him from boarding a train after the 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain.

Footage captured by a bystander appears to show Souleymane being pushed back on to the platform amid chants of "we're racist, we're racist and that's the way we like it".

A statement on the club website said: "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.

We are grateful to the many Chelsea supporters and others who have provided information and we request any further details are sent to customer. services@chelseafc.com".

The club's investigation is being undertaken in conjunction with the Metropolitan and Paris police.

Chelsea insist they have apologised in writing to Souleymane and invited him and his family to London to attend the second leg of the European clash against PSG on March 11, while a spokesman stated that owner Roman Abramovich is "disgusted" by the incident.

In an interview given to BBC Radio 5 Live on Friday afternoon, Souleymane argued that Chelsea hold a degree of liability for the conduct of their fans and has yet to receive any contact from Stamford Bridge.

"Chelsea are partly responsible and I have brought a complaint. They have partial responsibility because it's their supporters," Souleymane said.

"Chelsea need to call my lawyers and they haven't done that yet, unlike PSG. Their director general has called my lawyer and he called me. I haven't had any reply from Chelsea. Nothing."

Mourinho, speaking about the incident for the first time, has revealed his own anguish but stresses that the men involved should not be viewed as genuine fans of the club.

"We feel ashamed but maybe we shouldn't because we - I - refuse to be connected with these people," Mourinho said.

"I'm connected with Chelsea and the many good things this club defends and represents. I left Chelsea in 2007 and I couldn't wait to come back.

"I felt ashamed when I knew what happened, but I repeat I'm a proud Chelsea manager because I know what this club is.

"I feel ashamed to have been connected with this sad episode that happened and I have no more words."

Mourinho, who wants Souleymane to visit Stamford Bridge because he "probably has the wrong idea about Chelsea", confirmed that his views are shared in the dressing room.

"The reaction of the players is the same reaction that we all have," said Mourinho.

"I have a squad at Chelsea where 12 or 14 players have African nationality or an African connection.

"Our dressing room has always had big principles of equality over everything - race, religion, everything.

"So the dressing room reacted in the same way I did, with disappointment and obviously condemning the situation and supporting the gentleman involved.

"But there is also the feeling that while we feel ashamed, maybe we shouldn't because we are not this and these people don't belong to us.

"Since minute one we have done absolutely everything because we have zero tolerance to this. We have to keep feeling our club is a great club and has no space for people like this."

Mourinho's weekly press conference ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier League match against Burnley at Stamford Bridge was dominated by discussion of the racist abuse witnessed on the Paris underground.

A club spokesman opened proceedings with a statement in which he said Chelsea were "appalled by what we saw", branding the incident as "unforgivable" and declaring that "the people involved do not represent Chelsea football club".

When Mourinho was asked how offensive it is that the supporters used the name of club captain John Terry to justify their actions, the spokesman intervened by saying: "We're not interested in any excuses or stories to try and cover these actions".

Terry was given a four-match ban and fined £220,000 in 2012 after being found guilty by the Football Association of racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand.

Mourinho was also referred to his comments relating to last October's calls to introduce the 'Rooney Rule' when he declared "there is no racism in football".

"I was asked about players choosing players or managers or not choosing them because of their race. Maybe I am naive, but I think that no club refuses a top manager or player because of his race," he said.

"This is what I said. I did not say there is no racism in football. This not football, this is society, it is public transport. Maybe the people with Chelsea scarves don't even like football or Chelsea. I don't know."

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck met with Kick it Out chairman Lord Ouseley on Friday as a demonstration of club's commitment to fighting discrimination and racism.

Additional reporting from PA

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