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British Transport police have launched an inquiry after claims of racist behaviour from a group of Chelsea fans have emerged. The group was said to be on a train travelling from London to Manchester on Sunday night.
The Police were informed about the event and were seen telling four men to exit the train as it approached Stoke station.
“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,” said a BTP spokesman.
“Colleagues from Staffordshire police also attended. Officers asked four men to leave the train at Stoke. We have spoken to two witnesses, and investigations continue.”
They were singing about how they won the League Cup: Witness
The passengers present in the train claim the offenders to be Chelsea fans, but it can only be confirmed upon further investigation. One witness told that a group of fans were already present in the train and were joined by a few more before the train left the station.
When asked how he knew which club the Chelsea fans supported, he said: “None of them were wearing any Chelsea scarves or shirts but were chanting about how they’d just won the League cup and how they’re top of the league.”
The witness, who wanted to retain his anonymity later added, “I wasn’t in the carriage for very long as I moved about 15-20 minutes into the journey but just before the train set off, a young girl asked them to be quiet and was confronted by a man who wasn’t very pleasant to her and pressed his finger against her face.
“Then she pushed his hand away and he dropped his drink and continued shouting in her face and demanded she buy him another drink. His friends were chanting his name as this was happening and then the girl began to cry but he carried on and then she left the train.”
Chelsea have had a few racist incidents in the past
The London club has had a number of racist outbursts among its fans in the recent past. Less than a month ago a group of Chelsea fans were taped pushing a black man out of a train during the Champions League clash between Paris-Saint Germain and Chelsea.
While another group of fans were heard shouting racist chants in London at St. Pancras station while returning from Paris. Supporters were warned ahead of the League Cup final on Sunday to be on their best behaviour and met a sign which read: “Racist chanting may lead to arrest”.
