JOSE MOURINHO SAYS that he felt “ashamed” when he heard about Chelsea fans racially abusing a man on the Paris Metro — but insists that he is proud to manage the club.
A group of Blues supporters were filmed pushing a black man, who was travelling home from work, to prevent him boarding a train after Tuesday night’s Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain.
They were then heard chanting “we’re racist, we’re racist and that’s the way we like it” from inside the carriage. Chelsea vowed to support legal action against those involved and ban any season-ticket holders or club members.
“I felt ashamed when I knew what happened but, I repeat, I’m a proud Chelsea manager and I know what this club is,” Mourinho told reporters on Friday.
He added: “We feel ashamed but maybe we shouldn’t. We are not these people. Chelsea is doing everything [to stop racism] since minute one.”
A Chelsea spokesman said that club owner Roman Abramovich was “disgusted” by the incident and announced that the man who was subject to the abuse, known only as Souleymane S, would be invited to watch the second leg of the tie at Stamford Bridge.
Asked whether non-white Chelsea fans would consider not coming to watch the team in light of the incident, Mourinho replied: “I don’t think that. They know the club.”
Mourinho also answered criticism over comments he made claiming there is “no racism in football” in October. “I didn’t say that,” he insisted. “I said about clubs [not] choosing managers or players because of race.
“I’m saying a club never refuses top manager or player because of race. I’m not saying there’s no racism in football.”
