Police have released images of three Chelsea football fans they believe were involved in an allegedly racist incident on a Paris Metro train. The Metropolitan Police are appealing for help to identify the trio, who they think were among a group of Chelsea supporters who pushed a black man off the train and chanted a racist song while on the way to a Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain in the French capital on Tuesday.
CCTV images of three Chelsea football fans they believe were involved in an allegedly racist incident on a Paris Metro train
The appeal comes as Chelsea tonight suspended another two people from its Stamford Bridge ground following investigations into the incident, taking the total number to five. The three singled out by the Met in images taken from the Metro are not the same as the trio initially suspended by Chelsea. The club reiterated its promise to ban for life anyone proved to have been involved in the racist altercation and is helping police in the UK and Paris.
It comes as the man pushed off the train, identified only as 33-year-old Souleymane, said the incident is the club's "responsibility". He said he not yet received any contact via his lawyer from the Premier League club after he was left "humiliated" during the incident.
Footage captured by a bystander appears to show him being pushed off the train and back on to the platform amid chants of "we're racist, we're racist and that's the way we like it". Speaking of his ordeal, Souleymane, who is black, told BBC Radio 5 Live Drive: "I felt truly wounded to the bottom of my heart that I really couldn't believe it.
"We're in 2015 aren't we and we're in France. We're in a civilised country and when you are in a civilised country there are certain things you can't do. For me, it's a humiliation. I was humiliated in my country. I was humiliated in front of my family, humiliated in front of my mother and father."
He added: "Of course it's Chelsea's responsibility. It's their supporters. They (the fans) didn't say Paris, they said Chelsea. Chelsea should call my lawyer. And they haven't done that yet. It's their supporters. The director general of PSG has called my lawyer but Chelsea haven't contacted my lawyer."
Footage posted online appeared to show the group shouting and gesturing at Souleymane before pushing him out of the carriage when he steps in. The supporters were travelling to the Parc des Princes ground for Chelsea's Champions League match against PSG, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
They also chanted at bemused onlookers "We're racist and that's the way we like it" and "Where were you in World War Two?". Chelsea have said they are "appalled" and have apologised to the victim, while manager Jose Mourinho said he was "ashamed" of the fans involved.
The club says it has also invited him and his family to London to attend the second leg of the European clash against PSG on March 11. Scotland Yard said it takes such matters "very seriously" and is investigating whether the supporters involved should be issued with football banning orders.
French president Francois Hollande spoke to Souleymane by telephone today, according to Le Parisien newspaper. Hollande praised the 33-year-old and reportedly thanked him for the dignity he had shown in his public remarks over the incident.