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CHELSEA

Chelsea fans banned for Paris racist abuse

Five Chelsea fans have been banned from all football matches for up to five years over an incident of racism in Paris in February, in court proceedings that concluded on Wednesday.

Chelsea fans banned for Paris racist abuse
Frenchman Souleymane Sylla tries to board the Metro as Chelsea fans refuse him entry. Photo: Guardian (screenshot)
The men, including former police officer Richard Barklie, were involved in an incident in which a black Frenchman was repeatedly shoved off a metro train carriage ahead of Chelsea's Champions League match against Paris Saint Germain.
   
“This was an abhorrent, nasty, offensive, arrogant and utterly unacceptable behaviour and cannot be allowed in modern, civilised society,” district judge Gareth Branston said at Stratford Magistrates Court in east London.
   
“It must be stamped out,” he said.
   
Branston said the 50-year-old Barklie and 20-year-old former finance worker Josh Parsons had played a leading role in the racist abuse and in pushing Souleymane Sylla off the train.
   
He accused them of “aggressive, disorderly conduct”.

Barklie had defended himself in court, saying there was no racist motive in pushing Sylla and accusing the Frenchman of “aggression” for trying to board a crowded train.

Barklie, Parsons and William Simpson, 26, received court orders banning them from all football matches for five years.
   
A fourth fan, 20-year-old Jordan Munday, was accused of joining in racist chanting and banned for three years.
   
A fifth fan in the same case, Dean Callis, 32, has already received a five-year banning order for his role.
   
The incident, captured on the mobile phone of a British expatriate, sparked widespread condemnation and has already prompted Chelsea to ban the five supporters from Stamford Bridge. 
 
'Chelsea fans' behaviour was ugly and shameful'

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FOOTBALL

Roma coach wants ‘same mentality’ in Chelsea rematch

Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco called on his players to have "the same mentality" against Chelsea in Tuesday's Champions League game in Rome as in London two weeks ago.

Roma coach wants 'same mentality' in Chelsea rematch
Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco. Photo: Filippo Monteforte/AFP

Roma have won all three of their league games since drawing 3-3 with Chelsea a fortnight ago, and Di Francesco called on his team to continue to build on the performance at Stamford Bridge.

“In London we saw a beautiful Roma and tomorrow I want to see the same mentality,” Di Francesco told Monday's press conference at the Stadio Olimpico.

“I want the same mentality as the one we adopted in our previous games. The mentality must be the same. That game must be a starting point for us.

“The idea is also to be more realistic than during the last three league matches (three 1-0 wins) where we lacked something.”

Roma – who have not reached the quarter-finals since 2007-2008 – are now looking for a victory to overtake Antonio Conte's men at the top of Group C.

The winner of the clash at the Stadio Olimpico will be well-placed to reach the last 16.

“I hope we will play with the same approach, maybe we can also be more effective and take more of our chances,” continued Di Francesco.

“We're growing and the great strength of this team is that we give away very little.

“We respect Chelsea, but we're also convinced about what we can do.”

Roma have a number of injury problems with record summer signing Patrik Schick still not fit to play.

“He has been reporting some pain when he kicks the ball, so he had new tests which did not show any major problem,” said Di Francesco.

“Either way, tomorrow he will not be included in the squad list, and we will assess for the next game against Fiorentina.”

Roma have also been hampered by injuries to Gregoire Defrel (ankle), Bruno Peres (hamstring) and Rick Karsdorp (cruciate ligament).

“I don't believe in coincidences or bad luck. We have to look at Bruno Peres separately, who got injured in a very specific part of his hamstring,” said the Roma coach.

“In general, however, we are working hard on solutions. But regardless of what you all are saying, I only have one thing in mind – tomorrow we are playing Chelsea, in front of our fans.

“It will be a great atmosphere and I hope the team will make them happy.”