maybe the advice from the club was for the solicitors to take this forward, it was under different ownership back then although that is still no excuse. The FA were are as poor and out of touch today as they were back then. Even now the dimenia debate and heading is one that they are not tackling - nor is the concussion debate. However - Anton - lots of respect from me. So sorry the club did not support you as much as they should have done. The video clip of terry saying what he did has now had more mainstream airing then it ever probably did. Maybe things might change for the better.
Whether you have a sticks and stones approach or not the personal impact on him was huge; the wider impact on his family was a disgrace. The whole investigation process and lack of support is shameful. The fact that Kick-it-out are told not to be there to support racially abused players during an investigation is appalling; and the fact Kick-it-out feel they have to be careful about what they say about the FA, EPL because they fund them is disgraceful. We have an awful long way to go to understand the impact on the person other than just the words. Ferdinands guilt for not speaking out at the time can be seen to weigh so heavily on his (and his brothers) shoulders to this day.
Agree with a lot of what people have said already. I thought the programme showed that Anton was very badly advised. The F.A.'s whole reaction was to do whatever they could to brush it under the carpet in order to save themselves any more embarassment as Terry was England captain at the time. I think QPR as a club should have done a lot more to help Anton. The incident seemed to end his career with Warnock confirming he was never the same player afterwards. His Mum was a white woman but the incident seemed to affect her a lot and she became ill and died of cancer. Ashley Cole has a lot to answer for, to his own community by supporting Terry in the trial. The programme was an eye opener to see how such public racial abuse could affect a footballer so much. I think by revisiting the incident, Anton will ensure that Terry will never be seen as a decent person for the rest of his life. I hope he will take comfort from that for all that he has been through.
How will Terry ever become a manager trusted and respected by his whole team? Can't see it. Oh dear what a shame.
I saw it rather differently. I really wanted to have to eat humble pie here. This is my take having watched all and rewatched parts of the documentary. Terry did reach out to Anton after the incident. Anton didn’t respond. Terry didn’t want to engage in the program some 9 years later. During the game, there was banter between the players. Anton said that he had said some strong things to Terry, primarily it seemed, about Terry’s wife. This apparently happens in football. Had Terry replaced the word “black” with lanky, clumsy or maybe awkward but still used f....... and c... to sandwich the adjective then somehow it seems that would have been quite acceptable. I note that the head of the FA recently resigned as he used the word “coloured” instead of “black”. Anton had advice to say nothing at the time which (bearing in mind he didn’t actually hear what he was called) seemed like pretty good advice to me. That was from friends and family. Anton clearly now desperately regrets saying nothing and seems to beat himself up about it. Can’t see why. Anton was impacted by horrific social media comments which might be what has seemingly destabilised him. I regret that my view really hasn’t altered and I feel Anton has allowed this to define his life and much of his career. The word “black” was used in an appalling manner towards him, I get that, I really do. Maybe, as a short, fat, balding, pasty white guy of ginger Irish decent, I am just unable to empathise. By the way, I have been called of the above and a pikey too. Unlike Anton, I haven’t managed to rise to the peak of my profession and work in the most elite of high arenas. I don’t have his success but then I don’t have to suffer the public attention or any social media pressure either. My ability to fully appreciate Anton’s position is therefore limited. I am sorry if I offend anyone here but I just don’t get it. The guy has had more love, opportunity, outpouring of support and success than most could dream of, yet seems hell bent on focusing on one horrible moment and being a victim. He should take pride in his achievements, his wonderful family and the benefits and trappings his god given abilities have allowed him. Turning to Terry and the FA. Terry lost the England captaincy and ultimately resigned from international play. He was criminally prosecuted (case failed but would have cost Terry a fortune to defend), he was prosecuted by the FA, sanctioned and fined £220k. His legal defence would have probably been more than the fine. What reputation he had suffered immensely. No bad thing. However, to say nothing was done to him is wildly inaccurate. To me it looked like a nasty, heat of the moment exchange in a heated match. Years before the event Terry had sent Anton a signed shirt with a nice message. Being a QPR fan I will always be on the side of one of our own, particularly where an issue arises involving Chelsea. In the interest of proportionality and balance, if I distance myself from my natural dislike of Terry, I can’t help but feel this has been allowed to snowball into something hugely beyond what it really was, one man saying a nasty word (amongst many shared) to another.
I think Anton also mentioned something about terry sleeping with a team mates (Wayne Bridge's) wife. the fact that the bbc showed terry saying what he did could be / may be / will be career destroying. What was also shown was the Tom Daley dive terry did to cheat for a penalty (thankfully not given). Anton - RESPECT for doing this.
A real drama! Afraid Warwick doesn't cover himself in glory here. He hits Antoni with the news that after the incident Anton was never the same player. Anton states that he's floored by that which appears to be new knowledge to him. Why? Surely NW had a responsibility to offer support, counselling or maybe even just a bollocking to 'get your head together' (not recomended). Smacked a little of being wise after the event. I was educated by a black colleague many years ago who asked me how many times my lads had been stopped by the police (none) and had I trained my lads how to be searched by the police? Of course not! Every black mother in the UK does this I was told. We're on a journey here. Brexit has not helped as some have taken it as a mandate to express their nasty views. Tony Blair was right about one thing. Education, education and education is part of the solution. Edit. Had a good friend who was an ardent Chelsea fan. Educated and intelligent man who was a specialist accountant. Sadly no longer with us. Completely supported Terry's utter garbage statement that he was quoting what Anton had said to him! Football does strange things to all of us!
