Four Chelsea fans have been found guilty of racist violence in Paris, almost two years after they allegedly blocked a black man from boarding a Paris metro train.

The Chelsea supporters were given suspended prison sentences ranging from six months to a year.

They must also pay 10,000 euros (£8,500) in damages to the victim.

The incident happened in February 2015 before a Champions League game against Paris Saint-Germain.

Video showed Souleymane Sylla being pushed off the train by Chelsea supporters, who were singing: "We're racist, we're racist, and that's the way we like it."

Joshua Parsons, a 21-year-old trainee scaffolder from Surrey, appeared at the Paris Correctional Court along with Jamie Fairbairn, a 25-year-old civil engineer from Surrey.

Two other defendants – Richard Barklie, 50, of County Antrim, and William Simpson, 25, also from Surrey – were tried in their absence after refusing to travel back to France.

In a previous hearing in July 2015 at Stratford Magistrates' Court, Judge Gareth Branston said Parsons, who used to work for a finance company in central London, played a "leading role" in the racist abuse towards Mr Sylla, and in him being shoved.

The judge said Parsons used a rude gesture "indicating self love" to police, before racially abusing and pushing Mr Sylla.

Josh Parsons making obscene gesture to police officer, Chelsea Paris Metro racism case
Josh Parsons making obscene gesture to police officer, Chelsea Paris Metro racism case

He yelled "where were you in World War Two" and "f*** the IRA" as he hung out of the train carriage and pumped his fist.

Video footage caught him pushing two PSG supporters off the train shortly before Mr Sylla.

Mr Sylla said: "That's things we used to see in films actually. I used to hear the story of Rosa Parks," referring to the American civil rights pioneer arrested in 1955 for refusing to give her bus seat to a white passenger.

"I didn't believe it would happen to me", he told FranceInfo radio.

Two French anti-racist associations, SOS Racisme and LICRA, backed Mr Sylla's legal action.

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