Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has branded the racist incident on the Paris Metro involving Chelsea supporters as “pathetic and dreadful”, but accepts the issues raised are “society’s problem.”
Three fans could face life bans from football after being suspended from Stamford Bridge by the Premier League club as part of the ongoing investigation into the events of Tuesday evening.
A black commuter was blocked from entering a train by what appeared to be a group of travelling Blues fans to the Parc des Princes for the Champions League match against Paris St Germain.
A chant of “We’re racist and that’s the way we like it” was clearly audible after a fellow commuter recorded a video of the incident on his phone.
Chelsea announced on Thursday night that three unnamed supporters had been identified, with the help of other fans, and have been suspended, pending further investigation.
French coach Wenger, the longest serving manager in the Premier League, welcomed the swift action of Chelsea and called for the full force of the law to be implemented on anyone found guilty.
“It looked pathetic and dreadful. Unfortunately we always have a recurrence of that. You have to be extremely severe with any incident of that calibre,” said Wenger.
Asked where the problem lies, the Arsenal manager replied: “(It is) society’s problem.
“More intelligent people than myself think about that and nobody has found a miraculous solution, it certainly starts from childhood education and an open-minded attitude.
“There is a danger of having radical people in every society. Since I observed youth movements, there are always certain people who are ready for radical solutions and most of the time you have to control them.
“I don’t think the managers agree with that kind of behaviour. Everybody has to fight against that. Why should you not? There’s no reason at all. You have to be 100 per cent against that. It is absolutely ridiculous.”
