LONDON – Chelsea announced Tuesday that they have banned a fan
for life for racially abusing Raheem Sterling during a match against
Manchester City on December 8.
The club also issued bans of between one and two years to five
supporters for abusive language and threatening and aggressive
behaviour.
Chelsea said they had waited until the police had chosen not to issue
a criminal investigation before making their own decisions.
"One individual has been permanently excluded from Stamford Bridge
for the use of racially abusive language and threatening and
aggressive behaviour," Chelsea said in a statement.
"There is no place for this behaviour at Stamford Bridge and a
permanent exclusion was the appropriate sanction.
"Individuals receiving the shorter exclusion did so on the basis that
they have provided undertakings about their future behaviour."
Chelsea, who said all the relevant fans had the opportunity to appeal
and that appeals were heard, said they "continue to operate a zero
tolerance approach to any incidents of racism."
Sterling, along with a number of other black players, was also
subjected to racist abuse while playing for England in Montenegro in
April.