Chelsea Fans Banned from Football Matches Over Paris Metro Incident

Four Chelsea fans accused of obstructing a black man from boarding a Paris Metro have been handed up to five years ban from venues of football matches.

A Stratford Magistrates’ Court, on Wednesday, ruled that Richard Barklie, 50, from Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland, and Joshua Parsons and William Simpson, both from Surrey, will not attend football matches for five years.

Jordan Munday, from Sidcup in Kent, was banned for three years.

Their respective punishments cover games at home or abroad.

“Racist hatred was displayed by Chelsea fans on the Paris Metro that evening,” District Judge, Gareth Branston, said.

The incident, which occurred when Chelsea fans traveled to the French capital to watch their club in a Uefa Champions League round-of-16 clash with Paris St-Germain on 17 February, had “tarnished the reputation of English football in Europe,” the judge said.

Amateur footage surfaced on the internet shortly after the game showing fans pushing Frechman Souleymane Sylla off the train amid chants of “we’re racist, we’re racist and that’s the way we like it.”

In a statement read out in court, Mr Sylla said he was “violently” forced off the train as Chelsea fans jeered at him.

He said: “I again approached the carriage, explaining to this person I wanted to get back on the train.

Amateur Image of Chelsea Fans Preventing a Blacj Nan from Hopping on a Train. Footage from the Original Video Released By the Guardian.
Amateur Image of Chelsea Fans Preventing a Blacj Nan from Hopping on a Train. Footage from the Original Video Released By the Guardian.

“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,” he said.

Mr Barklie, a director with the World Human Rights Forum, had admitted twice pushing Mr Sylla, but blamed the Parisian for using “aggression” and shouting.”

The judge said Barklie “proved to be a menace” and had demonstrated aggressive, disorderly conduct,” while describing Parsons as the ringleader, “aggressive and disorderly.”

Parsons is said to have lost his job at a Mayfair financial company in the wake of the Paris Metro incident.

Another Chelsea supporter, Dean Callis, 32, received a five-year banning order prior to the court hearing for a number of incidents, including the one in Paris.

(Culled from the BBC)