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Video Shows Chelsea Soccer Fans in Racist Behavior Video Shows Racist Behavior by Chelsea Soccer Fans in Paris
(35 minutes later)
Video footage showing white fans of the English soccer team Chelsea shoving a black subway rider in Paris has revived concerns about racism in what is often labeled “the beautiful game.”Video footage showing white fans of the English soccer team Chelsea shoving a black subway rider in Paris has revived concerns about racism in what is often labeled “the beautiful game.”
The incident occurred on Tuesday, a day after a former national soccer coach in Italy incited outrage after video emerged of his complaining about too many “colored players” in the youth ranks of Italian teams.The incident occurred on Tuesday, a day after a former national soccer coach in Italy incited outrage after video emerged of his complaining about too many “colored players” in the youth ranks of Italian teams.
Amateur video footage shown on British news websites depicted a group of Chelsea fans pushing a black man and preventing him from boarding a packed subway train at the Richelieu-Drouot station in central Paris on Tuesday. The fans could also be heard chanting, “We’re racist, we’re racist and that’s the way we like it.”Amateur video footage shown on British news websites depicted a group of Chelsea fans pushing a black man and preventing him from boarding a packed subway train at the Richelieu-Drouot station in central Paris on Tuesday. The fans could also be heard chanting, “We’re racist, we’re racist and that’s the way we like it.”
In the footage, another voice could be heard shouting: “Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea.” The episode was said to have occurred before Chelsea played a Champions League game against Paris St.-Germain at the Parc des Princes stadium that ended in a 1-1 draw. In the footage, another voice could be heard shouting, “Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea.” The episode was said to have occurred before Chelsea played a Champions League game against Paris St.-Germain at the Parc des Princes stadium that ended in a 1-1 draw.
The footage, initially obtained by The Guardian, showed an unidentified black man trying at least twice to board the stationary train but being pushed back by a group of white soccer fans whose faces are shown clearly in the video.The footage, initially obtained by The Guardian, showed an unidentified black man trying at least twice to board the stationary train but being pushed back by a group of white soccer fans whose faces are shown clearly in the video.
A British expatriate who made the amateur footage, Paul Nolan, told the BBC on Wednesday that the episode was “threatening” and “ugly,” and that the people involved seemed “very aggressive.” A British expatriate who took the amateur footage, Paul Nolan, told the BBC on Wednesday that the episode was “threatening” and “ugly,” and that the people involved seemed “very aggressive.”
“I think there was a certain amount of pack mentality,” he said.“I think there was a certain amount of pack mentality,” he said.
Mr. Nolan told The Guardian that the man who was pushed off the train “was obviously completely shocked when they pushed him off. I don’t think he realized who they were. He then tried to get on again and got pushed off a second time.” Mr. Nolan told The Guardian that the man who was pushed off the train “was obviously completely shocked when they pushed him off.”
“There definitely was a culture shock,” Mr. Nolan said. “I heard a couple of French guys saying: ‘I can’t believe this. It’s insane.’” “I don’t think he realized who they were,” he continued. “He then tried to get on again and got pushed off a second time.”
Chelsea, currently leading the Premier League in England, has sought to shed accusations of racism among its supporters dating to the 1970s. In 2012, the Football Association, soccer’s governing body in England, banned the Chelsea captain, John Terry, for four games and fined him the equivalent of $330,000 for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand, a player for an opposing team. Mr. Nolan added: “There definitely was a culture shock. I heard a couple of French guys saying: ‘I can’t believe this. It’s insane.’”
In a statement on Tuesday, Chelsea Football Club said: “Such behavior is abhorrent and has no place in football or society.” Chelsea, currently leading the Premier League in England, has sought to shed accusations of racism among its fans dating to the 1970s. In 2012, the Football Association, soccer’s governing body in England, banned the Chelsea captain, John Terry, for four games and fined him the equivalent of $330,000 for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand, a player for an opposing team.
In a statement on Tuesday, Chelsea Football Club said, “Such behavior 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,” the club added.“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,” the club added.
The European soccer governing body, UEFA, said it was “appalled” by the incident but added that, since it occurred away from the stadium, “it is outside UEFA’s remit to act.”The European soccer governing body, UEFA, said it was “appalled” by the incident but added that, since it occurred away from the stadium, “it is outside UEFA’s remit to act.”
The French police said the footage would be assessed to determine whether there was cause for a formal investigation.The French police said the footage would be assessed to determine whether there was cause for a formal investigation.
Barney Ronay, a Guardian sportswriter, said in a report from Paris: “For anyone who follows football with any regularity, the response will be horror, sadness and embarrassment — but not surprise.” Barney Ronay, a Guardian sportswriter, said in a report from Paris, “For anyone who follows football with any regularity, the response will be horror, sadness and embarrassment — but not surprise.”
“The sight of a group of English people shoving a black Parisian man off a Métro train, while chanting with a horrible, knowing leer about being racists is hateful and infuriating, as it is meant to be. But it isn’t surprising because for decades this kind of thing has happened, continues to happen, and most troubling, appears to be happening a little more now,” he said.“The sight of a group of English people shoving a black Parisian man off a Métro train, while chanting with a horrible, knowing leer about being racists is hateful and infuriating, as it is meant to be. But it isn’t surprising because for decades this kind of thing has happened, continues to happen, and most troubling, appears to be happening a little more now,” he said.
The footage from Paris emerged a day after Arrigo Sacchi, who coached Italy to the final of the 1994 World Cup in the United States, was captured on video complaining that the presence of a large number of foreigners in the junior ranks of Italy’s professional clubs was hindering the development of young Italian players. The footage from Paris emerged a day after Arrigo Sacchi, who coached Italy to the final of the 1994 World Cup in the United States, was captured on video complaining that the presence of a large number of foreigners in the junior ranks of Italy’s professional teams was hindering the development of young Italian players.
“To see so many colored players, to see so many foreigners, is an insult to Italian soccer,” he said.“To see so many colored players, to see so many foreigners, is an insult to Italian soccer,” he said.