With a racist song ringing in his ears, a black man trying to board a subway train in Paris stands back after twice being pushed away by a group of Chelsea soccer fans.
It happened yesterday at Richelieu Drouout metro station, a short time before Chelsea played Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
Today, the Paris prosecutor's office opened an investigation into racially-motivated violence on public transport.
In a video of the incident posted online by the Guardian newspaper, the man dressed in a long overcoat and with a bag hanging from his left shoulder tries to board the train and is pushed away.
He then pushes back and says in French "Can I get on or what?" before again being shoved away.
A black woman walked away from the chanters moments later.
The carriage, mixed with Parisian commuters and English football fans making their way to the game, is packed. But there is enough standing space for one more person, as is evident when the man steps inside before being pushed away the first time.
The fans -- some of whom chanted "Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea" -- then sing "we're racist, we're racist, and that's the way we like it."
At about that time, several Paris transport officials walk past the group, but do not intervene, and the black woman leaves the adjacent carriage.
The identities of the men in the video, including the victim, have not yet been established, prosecutor's office spokeswoman Agnes Thibault-Lecuivre told The Associated Press.
The maximum penalty possible according to the French criminal code is three years in prison and a 45,000 euro (USD51,000) fine.
Christiane Taubira, the French justice minister, referred to the video on the floor of the National Assembly today, saying racism has no place in France.
London's Metropolitan Police said it will examine the footage to see if any banning orders can be applied, and will assist French authorities to "identify the people involved."
Chelsea, which has appealed for witnesses, said it would also take action -- including banning orders -- if possible.
"Such behavior is abhorrent and has no place in football or society," the English club said in a statement. "We will support any criminal action against those involved."
UEFA, the governing body of European soccer, said it could not take any action.
"We are appalled by the incident," UEFA said in a statement. "However, as it occurred away from the stadium, it is outside UEFA's remit to act.
