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Chelsea fan Richard Barklie: Paris train 'was too full' | Chelsea fan Richard Barklie: Paris train 'was too full' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
An ex-police officer and Chelsea fan involved in an alleged racist incident on the Paris Metro has said he pushed a black man away from a train carriage "because it was too full". | An ex-police officer and Chelsea fan involved in an alleged racist incident on the Paris Metro has said he pushed a black man away from a train carriage "because it was too full". |
Richard Barklie, 50, of Carrickfergus, County Antrim, was one of three men identified on CCTV footage by the Metropolitan Police. | Richard Barklie, 50, of Carrickfergus, County Antrim, was one of three men identified on CCTV footage by the Metropolitan Police. |
"I'm not a racist and I never have been a racist," he told the Sunday World. | "I'm not a racist and I never have been a racist," he told the Sunday World. |
He added: "I did not take part in any racist singing." | He added: "I did not take part in any racist singing." |
The Metropolitan Police has passed on the details of the three men to the authorities in France, who are investigating the incident before Chelsea's Champions League game against Paris St-Germain. | The Metropolitan Police has passed on the details of the three men to the authorities in France, who are investigating the incident before Chelsea's Champions League game against Paris St-Germain. |
Chelsea has suspended five fans and said it would ban them from attending Stamford Bridge for life if there was sufficient evidence of their involvement. | Chelsea has suspended five fans and said it would ban them from attending Stamford Bridge for life if there was sufficient evidence of their involvement. |
Mr Barklie, an ex-Royal Ulster Constabulary and Police Service of Northern Ireland officer, is currently a director with a human rights organisation - the World Human Rights Forum - and has also worked supporting victims of the Troubles. | Mr Barklie, an ex-Royal Ulster Constabulary and Police Service of Northern Ireland officer, is currently a director with a human rights organisation - the World Human Rights Forum - and has also worked supporting victims of the Troubles. |
In his most detailed public account about the incident to date, Mr Barklie told the paper: "People behind me were pushing and he was pushed back off. He never attempted to see if there was more room in any of the other carriages. | |
"He was pushed off simply because the carriage was full, no other reason - it had nothing to do with the colour of his skin." | "He was pushed off simply because the carriage was full, no other reason - it had nothing to do with the colour of his skin." |
Mr Barklie said he would be happy to meet the man. | Mr Barklie said he would be happy to meet the man. |
"I would tell him I was sorry for any trauma or stress he received as a result of what happened, but I would also say, it wasn't because he was black," he added. | "I would tell him I was sorry for any trauma or stress he received as a result of what happened, but I would also say, it wasn't because he was black," he added. |
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