Racist football fans in Paris shock Britons

The cameraphone footage showed a crowded Metro train at a central Paris station. The doors are open and a black man tries to enter.

Time and again, he is pushed back onto the platform by the passengers, all men, who are singing, “We’re racist, we’re racist and that’s the way we like it.”

The clip, taken by a British resident in Paris, has been shown repeatedly on television in Britain, bringing reactions of shocked condemnation.

The incident took place after Chelsea Football Club’s European Championship 1-1 draw with Paris Saint Germain and the racists involved were fans of the London club.

The victim, identified as Suleymane S., aged 30, was of African descent, born in Paris, employed, and with a family.

British football of the 1970s and 1980s was besmirched by hooliganism, racism and political sectarianism, and Chelsea, in particular, was known to have a long-established right-wing following.

But most clubs have black professionals on their books today and racist chanting in modern football is mostly confined to some Russian and East European clubs.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich condemned the fans’ behaviour as disgusting and manager Jose Mourinho said he was ashamed and invited Suleymane to be his guest at the return match with PSG in London.

Police and Chelsea officials named three fans and suspended five from home games while investigations continued. If their culpability is confirmed, they will be banned for life, the club said.

Suleymane called for the culprits to be locked up. “I was humiliated before my country, before my family and before my parents,” he said. “Is this not 2015 and Paris a civilised city?”

The irony of the fans’ behaviour is that 60 per cent of Chelsea players and most of the youth team are black.

The Observer quoted lifelong fan Keith Benson as lamenting the behaviour of Chelsea club captain and England player John Terry, who was accused of racially abusing a black British opponent in 2012.

“Young supporters look up to Terry,” he said. “It might have made racism more acceptable.”

The Paris incident occurred at a time when there has been an increase in anti-Semitic hostility in Britain and when communal tensions have been raised by reports of violence by Islamist extremists.

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The law in Britain lays down a minimum wage for all workers, a rule that has been widely ignored, according to low-paid employees. Now the government has named 70 companies that have failed to pay the stated amount.

Said Business minister Jo Swinson: “Naming and shaming gives a clear warning to employers that they will face reputational consequences as well as financial penalties up to £20,000 (Sh2.8 million) if they don’t pay the minimum wage.”

Such actions were illegal, immoral and completely unacceptable, she said.

The worst offenders among the 70 named companies are in the care sector — providers of old people’s homes, nurseries and the like.

Around 100 cases, described by the government as the “tip of the iceberg,” are being investigated in this area of employment.

The adult minimum wage is £6.50 (Sh917) an hour; the rate for workers aged 18 to 20 is £5.13 (Sh723); for 16-17-year-olds £3.79 (Sh534); for apprentices £2.73 (Sh385).

Trade union chief Frances O’Grady called for more prosecutions and higher fines.

“Cheating bosses who fleece their workers out of their hard-earned pay must end up in court,” she said. “And there are still lots of underpaying employers who are getting away with it.”

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Fun time: Tom suspected that his wife was going deaf, so he decided to test her. Standing 10 feet away, he asked, “What’s for dinner, Dorothy?” No reply.

He advanced to six feet. “What’s for dinner, Dorothy?” Silence.

He then stood right behind her. “What’s for dinner, Dorothy?”

Whereupon she swung round angrily and said: “For the third time, fish and chips!”

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A tough old sheep farmer from Scotland told his granddaughter that the secret to a long life was to sprinkle a pinch of gunpowder onto her porridge every morning.

The granddaughter followed this rule religiously until her death at the great age of 103.

She left behind 14 children, 30 grandchildren, 45 great grandchildren, 25 great great grandchildren and a forty-foot hole where the crematorium used to be.

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And finally, another dozy burglar… He sneaked through an open window and heard a cry, “I see you!” In panic, he switched on the lights, then laughed, “A talking parrot!”

The parrot said, “Jesus is watching you.” The burglar laughed again, “A religious talking parrot!”

Then, as he loaded valuables into his bag, the parrot shrieked, “Get him, Jesus.”

And the bulldog named Jesus leaped into action.

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