A
former policeman and Chelsea fan accused of being involved in an alleged
incident on the Paris Metro has apologised.
Richard Barklie, who was one of three men police sought after a black man
was allegedly pushed off a train by chanting football supporters, has
insisted he is not a racist.
Video posted online showed commuter Souleymane Sylla being forced back onto
the platform as some of those on the train chanted "we're racist, we're
racist and that's the way we like it".
Barklie, 50, who was a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and a Police
Service of Northern Ireland officer, is currently a director of the World
Human Rights Forum.
The Chelsea season-ticket holder issued a statement through his solicitor in
which he admitted being involved in an "incident" that resulted in Mr Sylla
being "unable to enter part of the train".
In the statement, his solicitor Kevin Winters said: "Pending formal
engagement with police, our client is anxious to put on record his total
abhorrence for racism and any activity associated with it.
"As someone who has spent years working with disadvantaged communities in
Africa and India he can point to a CV in human rights work, which undermines
any suggestion he is racist.
"Today a senior official in the World Human Rights Forum confirmed their
support for him. He did not participate in racist chanting and singing and
condemns any behaviour supporting that."
Barklie insisted he had travelled to matches for more than 20 years with no
problems and has "an account to give to police which will explain the
context and circumstances" of this incident.
"In the meantime pending that, he wants to put on record his sincerest
apologies for the trauma and stress suffered by Mr Souleymane."
The WAVE Trauma Centre, which supports victims of the Northern Ireland
Troubles, said it had suspended a part-time worker pending further
investigation into the Paris incident.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the other two men in the photo have
been identified and the force is working with the French authorities.
None of the men sought by Scotland Yard have been arrested.
Five people have so far been suspended from Chelsea's Stamford Bridge ground
following investigations into the incident.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho expressed his shame over the weekend regarding
last week's incident in the French capital.
He told
Goals on Sunday: "When I use the word ashamed of, I repeat
should I, should I be ashamed of what two or three people did? Are these
people representing my club? Is Chelsea this? Not at all. Because of that we
feel very sorry to be connected with these people."
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