Five men have been summonsed to appear in court over an alleged racist incident on a train in Paris.
The men will appear at Waltham Forest Magistrates' Court on March 25 regarding a "police application for football banning orders", Scotland Yard said.
This allows police to apply for a banning order based on a complaint of anyone who resides in their area.
Controversy erupted last month when Chelsea fans were filmed singing racist chants and refusing to let a black man on a train ahead of their first leg Champion's League tie against Paris St Germain.
The complaint must meet the condition that "the respondent has at any time caused or contributed to any violence or disorder in the United Kingdom or elsewhere".
According to legislation, the court can make a banning order if magistrates are satisfied "there are reasonable grounds to believe that making a banning order would help to prevent violence or disorder at or in connection with any regulated football matches".
Banning orders can last for between three and 10 years. Breaches of the orders can result in a sentence of up to six months in prison.
The man forced off the Paris Metro train, identified as Souleymane S, was subsequently offered a VIP package by Chelsea to visit the stadium for the return leg in London on Wednesday night (March 11). He declined the offer.
Chelsea have already suspended five supporters over the incident on February 17, with official investigators saying that anyone who is found guilty of the offence will be banned for life by the club.
Originally published on Mirror Online.
