Chelsea issue suspensions pending investigation into Sterling incident

Four people have been banned from attending Chelsea games while the club looks into the behaviour of supporters against Manchester City.

Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling

Chelsea has suspended four people from attending the club's matches pending further investigations into allegations regarding the behaviour of supporters towards Manchester City's Raheem Sterling.

The announcement comes following an incident during the first half of Saturday's 2-0 win over the reigning Premier League champion at Stamford Bridge as Sterling collected the ball from beyond the byline.

View this post on Instagram

Good morning I just want to say , I am not normally the person to talk a lot but when I think I need my point to heard I will speak up. Regarding what was said at the Chelsea game as you can see by my reaction I just had to laugh because I don't expect no better. For example you have two young players starting out there careers both play for the same team, both have done the right thing. Which is buy a new house for there mothers who have put in a lot of time and love into helping them get where they are, but look how the news papers get there message across for the young black player and then for the young white payer. I think this in unacceptable both innocent have not done a thing wrong but just by the way it has been worded. This young black kid is looked at in a bad light. Which helps fuel racism an aggressive behaviour, so for all the news papers that don't understand why people are racist in this day and age all i have to say is have a second thought about fair publicity an give all players an equal chance.

A post shared by Raheem Sterling x (@sterling7) on Dec 9, 2018 at 1:54am PST

Chelsea and the Metropolitan Police launched investigations into whether the England international was racially abused by spectators.

In announcing the suspensions as it continues to look into the matter, the club stated its intention to hand out "severe sanctions" to any ticket holders who are shown to have committed racist behaviour.

"Our investigations into this matter are ongoing. We are fully supporting the police investigation and any information we gather will be passed on to them," Chelsea said in a statement.

"Chelsea Football Club finds all forms of discriminatory behaviour abhorrent and if there is evidence of ticket holders taking part in any racist behaviour, the club will issue severe sanctions, including bans. We will also fully support any criminal prosecutions."

In an Instagram post criticising the coverage black players receive in the British media, Sterling referenced what happened in the fixture.

"Regarding what was said at the Chelsea game, as you can see by my reaction I just had to laugh because I don't expect no better," he wrote.