Chelsea is "facing a fresh headache over allegations of abuse by fans" after police confirmed they are "hunting a group accused of groping women and shouting racist chants on a train," according to Tom Morgan of the London TELEGRAPH. Around 20 Chelsea supporters boarded a Great Western service from London Paddington to Worcester and "began to chant hateful language in front of families and young children" on Dec. 22, British Transport Police said. The force added that the men "also sexually assaulted a number of women on board the train." Women who have not yet reported the assaults are "being urged to come forward to police." The investigation was confirmed hours after Chelsea's Eden Hazard "led calls for restraint" by Chelsea and Tottenham fans in Tuesday's English Football League Cup semifinal amid "fears of anti-Semitism." Meanwhile, a "zero-tolerance" plan on hateful language was devised by the Met Police, Tottenham and Chelsea for Tuesday's match. On Monday, Hazard launched an "impassioned plea" for calm. He said, "I want people to remember the game for the right reasons" (TELEGRAPH, 1/8).
14-YEAR OLD 'MANHANDLED': In London, Sarah Marsh reported a 14-year-old boy claimed he was "manhandled" and "dragged" away by a football steward as he filmed outside Chelsea's ground. Max Hayes, a YouTube vlogger, said that the alleged incident -- which took place at the FA Cup third-round match between Chelsea and League Championship side Nottingham Forest -- "left him traumatised." The teenager said that he started to film quietly but was interrupted by an "aggressive" supervisor steward who told him filming was not allowed there. The group then moved to a quieter area to continue but claimed the same steward "manhandled" them (GUARDIAN, 1/7).
