Chelsea fans get banned from football after racist row in Paris
Three out of the four Chelsea fans who partook in a racist incident on the Paris Metro earlier this year have been banned from attending all football games, according to a report in The Mirror. The fourth fan is also set to receive his judgement soon from District Judge Gareth Branston, who was handling the proceedings at the Stratford Magistrates Court in London.
50-year-old Richard Barklie and 20-year-old Josh Parsons were both banned from attending home and away games for next five years, with the latter receiving the ban after demonstrating xenophobic hostility during the incident.
The third culprit is 30-year-old Jordan Munday who received a three-year ban due to his presence in the mobile phone footage, while 26-year-old William Simpson is also set for a prison sentence once his judgement comes out.
Souleymane Sylla says incident ‘destroyed’ him
After the victim Souleymane Sylla told court that he was ‘violently’ pushed off a train as one of the fans pointed to his skin, Judge Branston said that there was ‘no doubt Chelsea fans displayed racist hatred on the Paris Metro before the game’.
Fans of Chelsea Football Club were in Paris to watch Chelsea’s Champions League game against Paris St-Germain held on 17 February. The film footage of the whole incident was produced in court, which showed the shove on Sylla, followed by the chant “we’re racist, we’re racist, and that’s the way we like it.”
Mr Sylla said that since one of the fans pointed at his skin, he took it as an indication that he wouldn’t be allowed on the train because he was black. He went on to mention that the incident ‘destroyed’ him, and also left him unable to work or travel on public transport.
He also added that his children have been left traumatised by the reports, and in an extract from his statement which was read out before the case was adjourned, he said: "When I approached them to enter the coach, one of them pushed me away violently to put me back on to the platform.”
"I again approached the carriage, explaining to this person I wanted to get back on the train. He didn't seem to understand what I said to him and other supporters behind him were shouting and singing in English. As I don't speak English, I didn't understand what they said.”
"Another person made a sign indicating to the colour of the skin on his face."
The four fans insisted that there was no racist motive behind the incident, and that the reason they pushed Mr Sylla off was because the train was full, which is a stance that is being backed by their Defence lawyers.
The four will join 32-year-old Dean Callis, after the former rugby player had received a five-year-ban earlier for his participation in the Paris incident, as well as other violent incidents.
Watch the video of the incident here: