British police said on Monday they had launched an investigation into reports of racist behaviour by Chelsea fans, weeks after their supporters were filmed blocking a black man from boarding a Paris Metro train.
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British Transport Police were called to deal with claims that fans were behaving in a racist and abusive manner on a train from London to Manchester, northwest England.
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Officers boarded the train in Stoke, central England, and asked four men to leave, according to a police spokesman. Four more fans left voluntarily.
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“Shortly after 10.30pm on Sunday, 1 March, officers were called to meet a Euston to Manchester Piccadilly train at Stoke, following reports of racist and abusive behaviour by a number of passengers, said to be football fans,” explained the spokesman.
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“Officers asked four men to leave the train at Stoke. We have spoken to two witnesses, and investigations continue.”
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Premier League giants Chelsea had been playing in the League Cup final at London’s Wembley Stadium, in which they beat local rivals Tottenham 2-0.
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Footage posted online last month showed supporters blocking a man named as Souleymane S from boarding a train in the French capital and chanting: “We’re racist and that’s the way we like it”.
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The incident ahead of their Champions League draw with Paris St Germain sparked widespread condemnation.
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Chelsea have promised to ban anyone proved to have been involved for life, while manager Jose Mourinho said the club were “appalled” by the behaviour.
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British police are also seeking a group of men believed to be Chelsea supporters who were heard shouting racist chants at a London train station on their return from Paris.
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