Chelsea Fans Banned after Racist Incident on Paris Metro
"Utterly unacceptable behaviour cannot be allowed in modern, civilised society"
Four men involved in an incident on the Paris Metro on Tuesday, 17 February have been given banning orders totalling 18 years.
The orders ban the men from attending all regulated football matches both in the UK and abroad.
Video of the incident showed Frenchman Souleymane Sylla repeatedly pushed off the carriage while the Chelsea supporters chanted:
" We're racist, we're racist, and that's the way we like it."
The fans were in Paris to watch the Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain on Feb. 17.
Richard Barklie, 50, who worked for a human rights forum, former finance worker Josh Parsons, 20, and William Simpson, 26, were all issued with football banning orders for five years for their role.
Jordan Munday, 20, was banned from football matches for three years and a fifth man, Dean Callis, 32, of Islington, north London, earlier received a five-year banning order.
District Judge Gareth Branston told London's Stratford Magistrates Court: "This was an abhorrent, nasty, offensive, arrogant and utterly unacceptable behaviour and cannot be allowed in modern, civilised society.
"It must be stamped out."
He said Barklie, a former policeman in Northern Ireland and a director with the World Human Rights Forum, and Parsons were ringleaders.
The four men had denied they were racist and claimed Mr Sylla was only pushed off the train because it was "packed," not because he is black.
But footage was played to court showing some of the men join in the racist chanting as the Parisian was pushed.
In a statement read out in court, Mr Sylla told how he was "violently" forced off the train as Chelsea fans jeered and one pointed to his skin colour.
He said: "I again approached the carriage, explaining to this person I wanted to get back on the train.
"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."
Barklie admitted twice pushing Mr Sylla -- but blamed the Parisian for using "aggression" and shouting as he tried to board.
But on Wednesday district judge Branston said Barklie joined in the racist chanting of "John Terry is a racist and that's the way we like it."
And he said the former policeman "proved to be a menace" and had "demonstrated aggressive, disorderly conduct."
Parsons, who used to work for a finance company in Mayfair and lives in Dorking, Surrey, leaned out of the train and shouted "Where were you in World War Two?" and "F--- the IRA," the court heard.
The judge said Parsons displayed "aggressive and disorderly conduct as part of a pack of Chelsea fans."
Munday, of Sidcup, south-east London, is said to have joined in the racist chanting, an allegation he denied, insisting he was just "breathing."
He had earlier "fronted up" a man who was walking through Paris, pushing him twice before being told to calm down by police, the court heard.
Simpson, of Ashford, Surrey, also played a part in pushing Mr Sylla off the Metro train.
He has previously been arrested twice before for race-connected crimes.
All men had denied being racist and fought the Metropolitan Police's attempt to give them a football banning order.
On Tuesday, 10 and Wednesday, 11 March the Commissioner made five applications for football banning orders against five football supporters, in an effort to prevent violence and disorder in connection with regulated football matches.
Richard Barklie received a five year banning order under Section 14B of the Football Spectators Act 1989.
Jordan Munday received a three year banning order under Section 14B of the Football Spectators Act 1989.
William Simpson received a five year banning order under Section 14B of the Football Spectators Act 1989.
Josh Parsons received a five year banning order under Section 14B of the Football Spectators Act 1989.
On Tuesday, 7 July, Dean Callis accepted a five year banning order under Section 14B of the Football Spectators Act 1989 for his involvement in the general violence and disorder seen in Paris on Tuesday, 17 February.
Chief Superintendent Colin Morgan, from the Met's Public Order Branch, said: "In the Met area alone there are 224 people who are subject to football banning orders preventing them from attending any designated football matches in the UK or abroad. These include banning orders that are imposed following conviction as well as those granted following summons.
"This work forms an important part of policing football and reducing the risk of violence and disorder at football matches both at home and abroad. Violence and racism have no place in football and we will continue to put offenders before the courts as part of our efforts to make football a safer environment for everyone."
July 26, 2015
