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Sport

10th Feb 2016

Frenchman racially abused by Chelsea fans explains impact of ordeal

Tom Victor

Souleymane Sylla, the Parisien racially abused by Chelsea fans before last season’s Champions League game against PSG, will return to the Parc des Princes when the clubs meet again.

A statement from Sylla’s lawyer, Jim Michel-Gabriel, explained the true extent of the trauma faced by Sylla after he was pushed off a Metro train by Blues supporters in the racist incident.

Michel-Gabriel explained it was “impossible” for Sylla to use the Metro after the incident, right up until last week, Sky Sports reports.

“He has decided to go to the match as life must carry on,” he added.

Several fans were given football banning orders following the incident last February, when Chelsea supporters were filmed singing “we’re racist, we’re racist, and that’s the way we like it”.

When the footage emerged, Chelsea moved quickly to condemn the incident but Sylla declined their offer of a ticket to last season’s return leg in London.