Football Thugs (21/02/15)
Racism and religious sectarianism are indeed social problems that were not created by football or its many fans.
But football matches play a big part in the way that racists and bigots behave because they use the cover of large crowds to bully people and intimidate people, and spread their poison.
In the case of the Paris metro incident the Chelsea fans picked on someone who was not in a position to fight or argue back of fear of getting a real kicking and sadly there were no police around whose presence would have made these cowards think twice.
When fans sing offensive songs or chants they do so within a large crowd although modern football stadiums are covered by CCTV and so that should over time become less of a problem, if clubs act to weed the troublemakers out and ban them acquiring tickets.
So it's good to hear the Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho, and the club speaking out vigorously to condemn the behaviour of people who behave in this way and it's a fine gesture to invite Mr Soulemayne to attend a game at Stamford Bridge as a welcome guest because that will help isolate the minority of thugs within their midst.
Jose Mourinho 'ashamed' of Chelsea fans in Paris incident
Jose Mourinho is "ashamed" of the Chelsea fans who prevented a black man from boarding a Paris train before their Champions League tie on Tuesday.
Amateur video showed a man being pushed from the Metro train while a group chants, "we're racist, we're racist and that's the way we like it".
Blues boss Mourinho said: "I felt ashamed when I found out but these supporters do not represent the club."
Chelsea say they are "appalled" and have apologised to the victim.
The incident took place prior to Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Paris St-Germain on Tuesday evening and was filmed by British expatriate Paul Nolan.
Mourinho said: "The dressing room reacted as I did - with disappointment and they condemn the situation and support the gentleman involved and they feel ashamed but maybe we shouldn't because these people involved do not belong to Chelsea Football Club."
Chelsea have suspended three people from attending matches at Stamford Bridge and will issue life-time banning orders if there is deemed sufficient evidence of the fans' involvement.
The victim, a 33-year-old man named as Souleymane S, told French newspaper Le Parisien: "These people, these English fans... should be locked up."
A Chelsea spokesman said the club were writing to Souleymane to "apologise unreservedly" and invite him to attend a game as their guest.
European football's governing body Uefa said it was "appalled" by the incident but added: "As it occurred away from the stadium it is outside Uefa's remit to act."
Sepp Blatter, president of world football's governing body Fifa, responded by tweeting that there was "no place for racism in football".
QPR boss Chris Ramsey, the only black manager in the Premier League, said those involved were "not fans of football" and Arsenal's French manager Arsene Wenger described the Paris scenes as "pathetic and dreadful".
The Metropolitan Police in London have appealed for anyone with information regarding the incident to come forward.
In Mourinho's weekly press conference ahead of Saturday's Premier League match at Burnley, the Portuguese also addressed his contract situation at Chelsea and compatriot Luis Figo running for the Fifa presidency.
