London, Feb 19 (EFE).- Chelsea F.C. said Thursday it is suspending three fans who are being investigated for a racist incident earlier this week on the Paris Metro and could bar them from Stamford Bridge permanently.

“If it is deemed there is sufficient evidence of their involvement in the incident, the club will issue banning orders for life,” the London soccer club said on its Web site.

The club also said it is grateful to Chelsea supporters who have helped identify those suspected of taking part in the incident and is continuing to “cooperate fully with the Metropolitan and Paris police forces who lead the ongoing criminal investigation.”

On Tuesday, prior to the Champions League match between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, which ended in a 1-1 draw, Englishman Paul Nolan used his cellphone to film a group of Chelsea fans repeatedly preventing a black man from boarding one of the Metro’s trains at the Richelieu-Drouot station in central Paris.

On the recording, chants of “Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea” and also “we’re racist, we’re racist, and that’s the way we like it” can be heard, while the Metro passengers, including the victim, seem visibly shocked at the fans’ behavior.

On Wednesday, the Premier League club issued a statement calling the racist conduct “abhorrent” and pledging to “support any criminal action against those involved in such behavior.”

As previously reported by The Costa Rica Star, football clubs around the world are taking a firm stance against racism.