Tottenham legend Gary Lineker has praised Chelsea over their handling of the racist scandal on a Paris tube that has brought the club into question.

Three fans have now been suspended by the club following investigations into the abuse a black man was subjected to when he tried to board a train prior to Chelsea’s Champions League clash against PSG this week.

A spokesman for the West Londoners said they were “disgusted” by the incident, while Jose Mourinho admitted he felt “ashamed”, while saying the yobs behind the abuse were not representatives of the club as a whole.

“My feeling is the feeling of everyone at this club. We feel very sorry. We want to fight it. We feel ashamed and we want to apologise to this gentleman.

“We feel ashamed but maybe we shouldn’t because I refuse to be connected with these people. I am connected with Chelsea and so many good things this club defends and represents.”

And now Lineker, who earlier this week called the fans “moronic” and “disgraceful” has said Chelsea’s strong response, which includes offering the victim the chance to go to a game at Stamford Bridge, is “applaudable”.

Chelsea FC’s strong and condemning reaction to the Paris racism incident is applaudable.

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) February 20, 2015