Chelsea suspends three fans from stadium after racist Paris incident

The Chelsea soccer team suspended three people Thursday from its Stamford Bridge stadium in London following an investigation into an incident in which a black man was blocked from boarding a Paris metro train by a group of Chelsea fans earlier this week.

The team said it had received "substantial information" following an appeal for witnesses of Tuesday's incident, which happened before the team's Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain. 

A chant of "We're racist and that's the way we like it" from the Chelsea fans was clearly audible on a video of the incident at the Richelieu-Drouot Metro station.

Chelsea responded to widespread condemnation of the incident by announcing three supporters had been identified and suspended, pending further investigation.

Chelsea also said that "if it is deemed there is sufficient evidence of their involvement in the incident, the club will issue banning orders for life."

The swift action prevents the three fans from attending Saturday's Premier League match with Burnley at Stamford Bridge—which has been designated by the team as a "Game for Equality."

The fans' actions were condemned by British Prime Minister David Cameron, FIFA president Sepp Blatter and anti-racism groups Football Against Racism in Europe and Kick It Out.

Chelsea's first-ever black player, Paul Canoville, said he was "embarrassed" and "ashamed" by the incident.

French authorities said they are working with their British counterparts and anyone convicted of "deliberate racial violence on public transport" could face a prison term of up to three years and a fine of over $51,000.

The victim told the French newspaper Le Parisien he did not know the incident was filmed by another passenger on the platform and widely broadcast. He planned to lodge an official complaint with police.

"I don't speak a word of English ... but it was clear to me they were picking on me because of the color of my skin," said the victim, identified by the newspaper as 33-year-old Souleymane.

"These people, these English supporters, have to be found, punished and should be locked up. What happened shouldn't go unpunished," he added.

Al Jazeera and wire services