A GANG of Chelsea football fans are being hunted by police both sides of the
Channel after being filmed chanting “we’re racist” and forcing a black
passenger off a Paris metro train.
Scotland Yard along with French cops have launched an investigation after the
shameful scenes last night.
The shocking video was captured on a mobile phone shortly before the club’s
1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain.
The black passenger tried to board a carriage but gets pushed off by thugs.
On two occasions the unidentified man, who is smartly dressed and looks like a
commuter, is pushed back onto the platform at the Richelieu-Drouot station.
The hooligans then chant: “We’re racist, we’re racist and that’s the way we
like it.”
A statement by the Met said: “We are aware of footage currently on the
internet allegedly involving Chelsea fans in Paris.
“The Metropolitan Police Service takes offences such as this very seriously,
no matter where they occur.
“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.
“We will, of course, assist French authorities to identify the people involved
and support them in any action they choose to take.”
And French authorities also launched a probe, according to sources.
Paris prosecutors have opened an inquiry into “voluntary (acts of) violence
for reasons of race in a public transport system”.
Chelsea said in a statement: “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.”
It is the second year in a row Chelsea fans have shamed themselves in the
French capital. Last April around 100 supporters smashed cafes and shops
before a Champions League quarter final match.
Another 400 yobs reportedly made Nazi salutes and chanted racist abuse before
they started attacking PSG fans.
Fifa President Sepp Blatter said: “I also condemn the actions of a small group
of Chelsea fans in Paris. There is no place for racism in football!”
And former England striker and March of the Day host Gary Lineker added: “Just
saw the video of the Chelsea mob’s deplorable behaviour and racist chants.
“Sickening, embarrassing, moronic, disgraceful.”
Footie pundit Stan Collymore tweeted: “As I said a couple of weeks ago,
Rangers and Chelsea, aka ‘The Blues Brothers’, made for each other. Quelle
surprise.. #NF #BNP #C18.
“Chelsea fans. Save your spite for those on the train, I’m sure you’ll want to
see them banned from holding season tickets at your club.”
British expat Paul Nolan, who filmed the clip, said: “The doors were open and
I could see and hear that a lot of chanting was going on.
“It looked like it was quite aggressive so I just took out my phone to record
it.
“He was obviously completely shocked when they pushed him off. I don’t think
he realised who they were. He then tried to get on again and got pushed off
a second time.
“I was just completely appalled by it and so that’s why I tried to catch some
of it on my phone.
“There definitely was a culture shock. I heard a couple of French guys saying:
‘I can’t believe this. It’s insane’.”
Football governing body Uefa said in a statement: “Uefa condemns all forms of
discrimination.
“We are appalled by the incident which took place in the Paris Metro on
Tuesday.
“However, as it occurred away from the stadium, it is outside Uefa’s remit to
act.
“It is a matter for the local authorities to investigate further and Uefa
supports any action that is taken.”
Do you recognise anyone in the video? Call the newsdesk on 020 7782 4101 or email
[email protected]
Chelsea’s hooligan shame
The incident in Paris is the latest in a long line of racist behaviour and
disturbances carried out by Chelsea thugs.
The Chelsea Headhunters hooligan gang is notorious for its links to Far Right
organisations such as Combat 18 and the National Front.
With its roots in the skinhead subculture of the 1960s, one of the group’s
mottos is “When we’re good they never remember, when we’re bad they never
forget”.
A BBC documentary by undercover investigator Donal MacIntyre on football
violence in 1999 led to the conviction of several fans for organising fights
with rival supporters.
The programme exposed the gang’s links to extremist groups and racist
tendencies, with “top boy” Jason Marriner boasting that he and fellow
hooligan Andy “Nightmare” Frain had upset visitors at Auschwitz with Nazi
salutes.
In 1985 high profile Headhunters member Kevin Whitton was jailed for his part
in a violent assault on an American bar manager together with other fans on
the King’s Road following a Chelsea defeat.
Fans chanted “War! War! War!” as they stormed into a pub, with one of them
shouting “You bloody Americans! Coming here taking our jobs”.
Another prominent member, the late “Chubby” Chris Henderson, fronted skinhead
band Combat 84, whose songs included lyrics in favour of the death penalty
and against the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
Henderson went on to brag about how he organised football fans to travel by
“luxury coach with the aim of causing havoc and destruction” in a memoir
titled “Who Wants It?”.
Just last year hundreds of Chelsea fans were involved in a riot in Paris ahead
of a match with Paris St Germain.
Witnesses reported that the fans made Nazi salutes and chanted racist abuse
before going on the rampage and attacking opposition supporters.
In May 2013 three police officers were injured when Chelsea fans clashed with
Benfica fans before the Europa League final in Amsterdam.
Ten Chelsea fans were arrested for violent disorder.
Trouble also erupted on the streets of west London in 2010 when the
Headhunters fought Cardiff City’s Soul Crew after an FA Cup match between
Chelsea and the Welsh side.