French prosecutors have identified seven Chelsea supporters suspected of involvement in the racial abuse of a black commuter on the Paris Métro, and have given their photographs to the Metropolitan Police, reports The Telegraph.
French and British police are working together to trace the group of Chelsea fans who repeatedly pushed a black man trying to board a train back on to the platform while chanting: “We’re racist and that’s the way we like it.”
The disturbing scenes, filmed by a British expatriate on his mobile phone and shown on television around the world, have provoked outrage.
The French prime minister, Manuel Valls, expressed disgust after the commuter, named as Souleymane S., gave his account of the incident on television and radio.
“Touched and outraged by the statement of Souleymane. On the pitch or outside the grounds, racism and intolerance have no place,” Mr Valls said in a tweet.
French police interviewed the victim on Thursday after he filed a police complaint against the supporters, against Chelsea and against the French club Paris Saint-Germain. The Chelsea fans were in Paris for a match between the two clubs.
French police expect the seven suspects to be traced within days. They may then be questioned either by British police or by French officers who may travel to Britain.
If the perpetrators are convicted, they face a prison sentence of up to three years and a fine of £33,000 under French law.
Police inspector Antoine Boutonnet, in charge of investigations into football hooliganism, said he expected the case to be solved swiftly.
“We often lack evidence but here it’s a good thing that there’s video of the offence committed in the Métro. The culprits will be identified thanks to the English officers we’re working with, using facial recognition techniques,” Mr Boutonnet said.
Chelsea banned three supporters from their Stamford Bridge ground on Thursday pending the outcome of investigations by the club and the police.
The three individuals have not been named. It is unclear if they are among the seven identified by the French authorities. Their names and photographs have not been made public.