CHELSEA became embroiled in another racism scandal involving their fans yesterday, this time on a train from London to Manchester on Sunday night.

The British Transport Police said they were investigating reports of racist and abusive behaviour by Blues fans celebrating their League Cup final victory over Tottenham.

Four men were forced off the train, with witnesses claiming that fans asked two young Asian girls where their burkas were and sang songs about Spurs and Auschwitz.

Another witness said the abuse caused a black man to leave the carriage in attempt to get away from the group of men.

A BTP statement said that “rail passengers and staff have the right to travel and work in peace,” which led to rail union RMT general secretary Mick Cash to say: “RMT is aware of reports of abusive and racist behaviour on a London to Manchester train last night, thought to involve football supporters returning from London, which resulted in a number of passengers being removed from the service at Stoke.

“The incident, currently under investigation by the British Transport Police, once again shows how vulnerable staff and passengers are in these kind of situations and why it is so important to have adequate numbers of trained staff on hand to implement procedures to protect both those using our railways and those working on them.

“No-one should be subjected to racist and abusive behaviour but it is all too commonplace with rail staff on the front line expected to deal with it. They deserve the support and the resources they need and that has to mean an end to the cuts to staffing that are a feature of current rail franchising plans which do nothing but increase risks and encourage those who think the railways are a safe place to use threatening, racist and abusive behaviour.”

A Chelsea spokesman said: “We are aware of the reports but it is not clear at this time if this incident involves Chelsea supporters.

“If it did then we will assist the British Transport Police with their enquiries.”

This is the third time in a month that Blues fans have been accused of racism.

Last month in France a group of supporters pushed a black man off the Paris Metro, while the next day a group of fans were caught allegedly chanting racist songs at St Pancras station.