Arsenal
manager 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."
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