Arsène Wenger has condemned the racist abuse to which a black Parisian commuter was subjected by a group of Chelsea supporters ahead of the Champions League knockout tie at Paris Saint-Germain as “pathetic and dreadful”.
Three fans filmed as part of a crowd caught chanting that they liked being racist, moments after the commuter was repeatedly shoved from a train carriage, have since been suspended from entering club grounds. Chelsea, who have not identified the individuals, have stressed culprits could face a lifetime ban from Stamford Bridge with French prosecutors warning those found guilty of racist offences could face three years in jail.
“It looked pathetic and dreadful,” said Wenger when asked about the incident. “Unfortunately we have a recurrence of that always. But we have to be extremely severe with any incident of that calibre. It’s society’s problem (and not just football’s). Look, more intelligent people than myself have thought about that and nobody has found a miraculous solution. It starts from childhood and education, and an open-minded attitude.
“There’s a danger of having radical people in every society. Look, since I’ve observed youth movements, there are always a number of people ready for radical solutions. Most of the time you have to control them. I don’t think anyone agrees with that kind of behaviour. Everybody has to fight against that. Why should we not? You have to be 100% against that. It’s absolutely ridiculous.”
