It’s funny what you remember from your childhood. For me it wasn’t the dust ups in the schoolyard – believe I had a losing record. What I do remember is every single time a racial slur was directed my way, vividly. Thankfully I grew up in a pretty great multicultural neighborhood with a variety of people from all over the world, but it still happened. I can recite what was said verbatim, no matter how stupid – calling someone a ‘paki’ is the epitome of lazy work.
That’s why I wanted to believe Anton Ferdinand’s version of events when Chelsea met QPR in another installment of the London derby in October of last year. It’s why I have trouble believing John Terry was simply repeating what Ferdinand said when he uttered the now infamous ‘fucking black c***’ in the QPR defender’s direction.
John Terry was cleared of all charges today – the magistrate ruled it was impossible to determine what exactly was said on the pitch that day. Is Terry a racist jackass? That remains unclear. With that said, what in the hell was the point of this trial. Ferdinand didn’t actually hear what Terry said. And didn’t we already know footballers say terrible things to each other on the pitch? This quote from the Guardian wrap summed up the trial perfectly:
“The prosecution alleged Terry used the words “Fuck off, fuck off’, yeah, yeah”, “and”, “you fucking black c***, fucking knobhead”. The prosecutor suggested this was Terry responding to a “slow fist pump” gesture by Ferdinand, relating to an alleged affair between Terry and an ex-girlfriend of Terry’s former teammate Wayne Bridge.”
Riveting.
Whether Terry will face any disciplinary action is now up to the FA, as it should have been all along. Luis Suarez’s punishment for racial abuse directed at Patrice Evra was fair and significant. Anton Ferdinand didn’t want this to go to court. The complaint – there was only one – was lodged by an off duty police officer watching the game on television. How that was enough to launch the most ridiculous legal spectacle in recent memory boggles my mind.
How ridiculous was this? Ashley Cole emerged as the voice of reason when he took the stand to defend his captain stating, “I think we shouldn’t be sitting here.” Ca$hley was correct.
We’re far away from a day when racial epithets/abuse/idiocy are no longer a part of football – be it the supporters in the stands or the players on the pitch. We get further from eradicating it with sham trials designed to draw media attention and shame for all the wrong reasons.
This was a case designed for the now defunct television series Crown Court. The fact that this wasn’t a bad TV show and a real, actual thing is an indictment of the British legal system, press and the sport as a whole. Is the game no longer capable of policing itself – or more importantly, was it ever?
I’m sure Abramovich just sent some russian thugs around to the judge’s house to dish out a few threats
hahaha… i swear i thought the same thing lol, but i wouldnt be surprised to see the fa do nothing on one of their “British boys”
now you are racially profiling Abramovich based on his heritage……. for shame. lol
The evidence in the Suarez case was even less compelling than this case..maybe he (Suarez) should have demanded justice from the crown, instead of the FA!! Using FA logic, Terry should get a ban of 8 or more games, but I’m not holding my breath.
Agree wholeheartedly. I believe LFC backed off due to sponsor pressure. Abramovich doesn’t have to worry about that. Evra admitted using insulting and abusive language, yet no punishment for him.
Took the words out of my mouth. Suarez didn’t get a trial. He got an 8 game suspension with no hearing, no trial, no video evidence, nothing. John Terry was innocent until proven guilty. Suarez was treated as Guilty with no chance to be proven innocent.
“no video evidence, nothing…. Suarez was treated as Guilty with no chance to be proven innocent.” Did you even read the facts (Rafa Benitez =) from the FA report?
Suarez, Dalglish, Kuyt and Comolli lied throughout the proceedings. In contrast, Evra’s version of events never changed. An innocent person doesn’t need to keep changing their story in the fashion that Suarez did. Suarez provided the evidence himself. He admitted he called Evra “negro” and only an idiot would believe he was using it in a friendly way. The fact that they were in the middle of an argument during a game between two massive rivals makes this friendly use of the word hard to believe. Suarez had kicked Evra in the knee moments before and then slapped him round the back of the head. Whilst “negro” can be used amongst friends in Uruguay, independent language experts also acknowledged that this word can be used in a racist way too. If Suarez meant it in a friendly way and not a racist way, why didn’t he shake Evra’s hand and why has he never apologised for calling him it? Surely if a person innocently calls someone a name which they interpret to be racist, the first thing they would do is apologise wholeheartedly for any offence caused, no?
Always the victim, it’s never their fault.
He tried to shake Evra’s hand. Evra hand extended his hand to every Liverpool player in the line that day and moved it to his side when Suarez reached him. Then when Suarez saw what was happening and started to walk away Evra grabbed him by the hand to make sure Suarez looked like the bad guy to the whole world.
Yes Suarez admitted to calling him a “negrito”, and yes In Uruguay and other parts of South America it is used commonly without being thought of as a slur.
Should he have known better that the custom was not followed in Europe? Absolutely. He made a mistake, he admitted to saying it. He could have tried to deny it, but he didn’t.
Luis Suarez made a mistake, but he isn’t a racist.
If somebody insulted me with racial epithet, I would not be quick to shake hands with them.
And you John, have thus taken the words from my mouth.
It’s clear to everyone but the true racists, The FA.
I am hoping The FA actually does their job as a football governing body and give JT the same match ban sanction that Suarez. The reason is to set a precident in English football that any inappropriate language, racist or not, toward any player will be faced with a lengthy match suspension(s).
If Terry was just repeating what Anton had said to him, why would he put “and” and say the second part of it? I’m sorry but those kind of remarks are not required on the pitch nor should they be in the game. I’m tired of this racism bullshit in football. The FA needs to put their stamp on this on pitch talking to one another now before it gets out of control. The Kick It Out and Respect campaigns have taken a huge hit because of what has come out of this trial in respect to on pitch talking.
Completely agree with you. Terry better be banned for more than 8 matches by the FA.
I don’t see how the FA could suspend a player for something a higher court found him not guilty of. Does the FA deserve a different burden of proof than civilian court? If Terry does get suspended for this incident you’d have to think he’d have a very strong case for appeal.
Could the FA not ban him on account of saying a racist slur (which he admitted to) just like Suarez?
If the FA is not entitled to a different burden of proof (which they shouldn’t be), then Suarez would never have been suspended.
The FA went chicken on this: they wanted this case to go to the courts first, hoping JT would be found not guilty, and also hoping that would be enough for them to also find him not guilty. Problem is, the public wants its pound of flesh one way or another…..
absolute disgrace!
BIg brother Rio his an idiot also. His Choc Ice comments on twitter are just as bad as Terrys IMO. Ashley Cole should slap both of them.