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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has said that he feels ashamed for the incident in Paris Metro where a man was racially abused by Chelsea fans. The club has already taken action on the three identified perpetrators, who are subject to an ongoing investigation and might face life-long-ban if proved guilty.
Mourinho said that he feels "ashamed" by the incident, but maintained that he remains proud to be the Chelsea manager and insisted that such fans don’t represent the club.He said, “We feel ashamed but maybe we shouldn't because I refuse to be connected with these people," Mourinho said.
“I'm connected with Chelsea and so many good things this club defends and represents. I left Chelsea in 2007 and I couldn't wait to be back. It's not because of people like this that I wanted to be back.
“I felt ashamed when I knew what happened, but I repeat, I'm a proud Chelsea manager because I know what this club is. These people don't represent the club.”
Chelsea has invited the abused man to Stamford Bridge
The club has invited the victim, identified in media reports as French-Mauritian Souleymane S, to come to Stamford Bridge to watch Chelsea play. Mourinho has applauded the idea.
“I think if would watch a game he would see what Chelsea Football Club is. I don't know if the gentleman loves football. But the miserable people who had this action with him, this is not Chelsea - they are not Chelsea. It's the owner, the board, the manager, the players, the people who work here.
“So yes I support the idea, even if I don't know if he loves football or not.”
Asked how the players felt about the incident, he said, “They had the same reaction as we all had. I had a squad at Chelsea where it was around 12 or 14 players with African nationality or connection.
“This dressing room - even without me as manager - I am sure this dressing room was always one with big principals of equality, not just about race, but religion. They reacted with disappointment, condemning the situation and supporting the gentleman.”
Here is the full conference
