btw, HIAG throwing out some more beauties on the Spurs board. Fascinating how that odious little rodent's mind works at times.
Anton Ferdinand's ordeal may stop victims of racism coming forward The QPR defender was a reluctant witness rather than John Terry's accuser, but that did not stop the death threats Share 14 Email David Hytner David Hytner guardian.co.uk, Friday 13 July 2012 18.31 BST Queens Park Rangers' English defender An Anton Ferdinand, right, was commended for being 'brave' for standing as a witness in the case against John Terry. Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images Put yourself in Anton Ferdinand's boots for a moment. Since long before Friday's not-guilty verdict, indeed since the flashpoint on 23 October at Loftus Road which set in motion the explosive chain of events, the Queens Park Rangers defender has found himself the subject of death threats and terrace bile. His mother, Janice, has suffered terribly, receiving threatening correspondence at her home. She has had to involve the police and seek extra security. The Ferdinand family may choose one day to shed a little light on their collective experience. And all this from a case that her son did not drive and did not want to be a part of. The common misconception regarding the trial was that it was somehow Ferdinand versus Terry, that the former was the prosecution rather than a reluctant witness for the Crown. Ferdinand did not make the official complaint that set the wheels of the legal machinery clunking into action; it came from an off-duty police officer who had been offended by the footage of Terry mouthing the notorious obscenity. Even the Crown admitted Ferdinand was difficult to get hold of. It was merely the QPR player's sense of obligation that led him to agree to give a statement to the police. He was told that he would have to do only this, that he would not have to go to court, which he did not want to do. Until the decision to prosecute Terry was taken Ferdinand had hoped for a show of contrition from the Chelsea captain that might have averted the prolonging of the saga, which reached its conclusion in court this week, when the senseless insults were forensically dissected. No one emerged with credit, including Ferdinand, even if the chief magistrate Howard Riddle called him "brave" in his summing-up. Terry passionately felt that he had nothing to apologise for. This is where the system and Ferdinand's part in it has got him, the apparent victim who has been vilified and, ultimately, left bewildered under a burning hot spotlight. And the fear has to be that if and when black players do feel that they have a racism complaint to make, they will stop, consider the eight months or so that Ferdinand has lived through and ask themselves whether it is truly worth it. Football is the most tribal of pursuits, and even after the police and the Crown Prosecution Service and the courts have become involved in this instance, old habits have died hard. Sides were picked and positions entrenched long before the evidence was heard at Westminster. There have been echoes of the Luis Suárez-Patrice Evra case, when the then Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish gave Suárez such unqualified support and the players wore those T-shirts. Chelsea gave the impression all along that they backed Terry regardless, even if the stance was vindicated in the end. On the eve of the trial, the manager Roberto Di Matteo was quoted as saying that "John Terry is our captain and leader ⦠and hopefully, he will be the same for us next season". At Liverpool last season there was a conspiratorial feeling that their rivals Manchester United were trying to destroy their best player and, by extension, the team, while Ferdinand has heard the criticism that he has developed a grudge and is taking it out on Terry and Chelsea. At times, the tribalism has overtaken the bigger picture. Chelsea's support for Terry extended to 17 first-team players signing identical statements to say he was no racist. It might have taken a brave player to refuse to sign when he was effectively asked: "Are you with us or not? Pick your side." Relations have been strained across the divide. Ashley Cole, for example, despite being a reluctant defence witness and his attempts not to say too much, will no longer be a friend of Anton Ferdinand. The process has been fraught and deeper conversations must begin if, in future, those who feel they have been racially abused are to speak out.
I'm banned from there so can't see but I imagine he is literally frothing at the mouth and has become a Cambridge Law Graduate overnight
The only one on their that takes sense is Spurf, what he said was spot on and what I've said throughout this case. The best gem of HIAG's is when he claims it has rocked the reputation of English football. To who exactly? Does he honestly believe anyone outside these UK gives a rats ass about racism never mind a playground dispute? As CP said whilst you were away this was about political correctness, it was never about racism. The world has gone well and truly mad. I only wish the likes of Jason Robert had lived in the 50s/60s or even 70s, or been in South Africa at the height of Apartheid. I just think the whole case was a joke. I personally couldn't care less about one racial slur being used in the heat of the moment (if that was the case). Lunacy IMo
I think Spurf is the one with the most common sense out of them, with HIAG, Spurlock etc being the least. I'd ignore his entire article mate, he's a blatent wum - even on his own board! Cym has had suspicions that he isn't even a Spurs fan due to his irrational hatred for Liverpool and I'm starting to agree. Agree with what you say though, unfortunately I don't think racism will ever be eradicated, it's just something that will always remain. As long as people have freedom of speech there will always be racism, we can't alter how people think which leads me to my next point, the worst part about this is that while that video remains available to see and in people's minds, JT will always be branded a racist with boo's by, ironically, ignorant fools until he plays his last game.
John Terry's response to thinking he'd heard Anton Ferdinand wrongly accuse him of racism was moronic. Virtually everyone I know would have said "I never said that" or "I never called you that" etc. Footballers of ALL clubs have acted like morons for years and will continue to do so as they seem to be able to get away with it due to their wealth. Look at the number of them stupid enough to have affairs with women who are bound to run to the press and get their kit off. Look at the one who "forgot "to take a drug test while the testers waited for him to finish training and then his mates in the England team who refused to talk to the press cos they didn't like the coverage the press gave the case. Look at the number of them who get pissed in night clubs... Or punch people cos they think they are going to be punched... Or bet hundreds of thousands of pounds a month cos they are bored... set off fireworks in their bathrooms and cause fires Or go to prostitutes etc.etc.etc. Generally speaking football fans defend them if they play for their team and slate them if they don't.
There is no fact in that statement, it's neither here nor there - you can't tell someone what they would or wouldn't say. 2nd bit in bold I agree with too, it's the way we football fans work.
Wrong! Technically he is not guilty. However this does not mean he is innocent. That verdict only means that there was not enough Evidence to find him guilty. Not guilty...Yes innocent...No
Thats your spin on it. Frankly, you come across as someone who is bitter you didn't get the verdict you wanted to hear. Whats your motivation? Do you really care if justice is done? Or do you just want to see John Terry punished, innocent or not?
