Chelsea will seek to ban the supporters involved in a social media video that included a racially abusive chant about Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
The Blues’ security staff swiftly identified three of the six people in the widely-shared video, and denied that trio entry to Thursday’s Europa League clash at Slavia Prague.
The remaining three people in the video did not attempt to enter Slavia’s Sinobo Stadium, ahead of Chelsea’s 1-0 quarter-final first-leg victory.
The Stamford Bridge club issued a statement pledging to use all available punishments against those involved.
“Chelsea FC finds all forms of discriminatory behaviour abhorrent and where there is clear evidence of Chelsea season ticket holders or members involved in such behaviour, we will take the strongest possible action against them,” read the west London club’s statement.
“Such individuals are an embarrassment to the vast majority of Chelsea supporters who won’t tolerate them in their club.”
Marcos Alonso’s late header snatched Chelsea a win that had looked to be out of reach from Maurizio Sarri’s men as the Blues struggled for any kind of fluency.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s smart turn and run finally opened up Slavia, before Alonso buried Willian’s accurate cross.
Chelsea boss Sarri backed Chelsea’s stance on the latest racism storm as a “very strong decision”.
Liverpool thanked Chelsea for their urgent action in a statement of their own, revealing they are already working with Merseyside Police “to ascertain the facts around this footage with the aim of identifying individuals featuring in it.”
Four Chelsea supporters were suspended by the club for abusing Raheem Sterling during Manchester City’s 2-0 Premier League win at Stamford Bridge on December 8.
Then Chelsea condemned anti-Semitic chanting by Blues fans during the club’s 2-2 Europa League draw at MOL Vidi on December 13.
A Chelsea statement at the time branded that chanting “abhorrent”, saying it “shamed the club”. The Blues avoided punishment however, after UEFA ended disciplinary proceedings over the incident in February.
Chelsea continue to run the high-profile Say No to Anti-Semitism campaign
