A former cop and Chelsea fan has reportedly apologised for his role in the racist incident on the Paris Metro but has denied being a racist.

Richard Barklie, of Carrickfergus, County Antrim, who is one of the people sought by the Met Police, denied "racist chanting" in a statement and added that he wanted to explain the context of the incident to the police, reported the BBC.

Chelsea Football Club barred five fans after a video showed them preventing a black man from boarding a metro train in Paris.

The 50-year-old is a former Royal Ulster Constabulary and Police Service of Northern Ireland officer, is currently a director with the World Human Rights Forum and has also worked supporting victims of the Troubles.

Belfast solicitor Kevin Winters released a statement on behalf of the Chelsea season ticket-holder.