Chelsea issue life bans to five fans

Chelsea have issued life bans to five supporters for their involvement in racist incidents on the Paris Metro last season.

Four fans were handed football banning orders on Wednesday after appearing at Stratford Magistrates' Court.

The supporters were found to have racially abused a commuter and chanted racist songs before the team's Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain on February 17.

Richard Barklie, Josh Parsons, William Simpson, Jordan Munday and another individual by the name of Dean Callis, who had earlier received a banning order, have now been barred by Chelsea from ever watching the club again.

"The club will always reserve the right to decide who purchases tickets to attend Chelsea matches, and the behaviour of these five individuals was abhorrent, against all of the club's values and falls way below the standards the club expects of supporters attending our games," read an official statement.

"Chelsea FC is proud of its diversity, which runs throughout the club – from our owner to our multi-cultural playing squad and backroom team, the staff and our fans."

The victim who was racially abused on the Paris Metro was invited to watch a game at Stamford Bridge last season, but he refused the offer.