Chelsea boss spoke for first time about incident on Paris metro.
Jose Mourinho has said those involved in a racist assault and abuse on the Paris Metro before Chelsea’s match with Paris Saint-Germain do not represent the club.
SEE MORE:
Chelsea news
Chelsea news roundup: Blues to beat Man United to ‘new Neymar’, Hazard & Courtois nearly joined Tottenham, and more
Jose Mourinho set to sign new four-year contract with Chelsea
Mourinho on Paris racism: ‘I’m a proud Chelsea FC manager because I know what the club is … and these people don’t represent the club’
— Sam Wallace (@SamWallaceIndy) February 20, 2015
Speaking for the first time since the now infamous video footage of a black passenger being pushed off a Paris train before being racially abused by Chelsea supporters was released, Mourinho said he felt ashamed. However, he added he was proud to be the Blues manager and knows this is not what the club stands for, saying he refused to be connected with these people.
Mourinho on Paris racism: ‘I feel ashamed but maybe I shouldn’t because I refuse to be connected with these [abusive] people’ — Sam Wallace (@SamWallaceIndy) February 20, 2015
Chelsea released a statement immediately before Mourinho’s press conference saying the club “unreservedly apologises to the individual for an unforgivable incident”.
“Want to make clear out disgust on behalf of everyone at club with regard to incident on Paris metro. We were appalled.”
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) February 20, 2015
“Club also like to apologise unreservedly to individual for unforgivable incident. Co-operating fully with police.” — Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) February 20, 2015
“The people responsible for that incident do not represent the values of Chelsea FC, they have no place at Chelsea FC”
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) February 20, 2015
A spokesman also added on behalf of Blues owner Roman Abramovich that he was “disgusted” and “ashamed” by what had happened.
Chelsea spokesman speaking on behalf of Abramovich expresses “disgust” over Paris”:”Club would like to apologise unreservedly to Souleymane” — Rob Harris (@RobHarris) February 20, 2015
Mourinho and the club now say they support the idea of the victim of the attack, a man who has since been identified as Mr Souleymane, coming to a Chelsea game – possibly their home match against PSG.
Chelsea refused, however, to be drawn on fans who claimed they were not singing a racist chant at the black passenger, but a song about club captain John Terry, saying: “We aren’t interested in any excuses or cover stories.”
Chelsea spokesman on fans chanting about Terry (who was banned for racist abuse): “We aren’t interested in any excuses or cover stories.”
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) February 20, 2015
COMMENTS