I don't think that the slight problems with Ferdinand's memory of the incident make him an unreliable witness though, Lidls. The judge would appear to agree with me. "Overall I found Anton Ferdinand to be a believable witness on the central issue". "There were discrepancies in his evidence. To a large extent this is what you would expect from a truthful witness. Much of what happened; happened in a brief period of time, in circumstances where the result of the game was more important than any individual argument between two players." Terry doesn't come off so well, despite sticking to his story all of the way through. "Mr Terry’s explanation is, certainly under the cold light of forensic examination, unlikely. It is not the most obvious response. It is sandwiched between other undoubted insults." The judge stops short of calling him a liar, but he clearly doesn't believe him. He's not certain of the evidence against him though and Cole vaguely backs him up, so he finds him not guilty. He appears to think that Ferdinand simply let the incident go and agreed to do so after the game. "Another explanation, not one advanced by either party but which certainly crossed my mind, is that Anton Ferdinand did hear the words, did not want to take it any further, agreed in the changing room that he had heard nothing and stuck by that account. In short he may initially have wanted simply to move on, and as things snowballed found it expedient to stick with that position."
Don't know why this wasn't played in court, he clearly says, "Yeah, Yeah f..... b.... c..., knob head." Now I'm sure Terry said he only repeated back 'those words' to explain that wasn't what he said....not in this footage John, doesn't look like what Ferdinand would have said to you!! [video=youtube;huEnpumF8sE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huEnpumF8sE&feature=related[/video]
well, boys. no surprise here then. how does that moron get away with 4 matches and about a weeks wages when he admitted using the noxious words and is then found gulity and punished with a response which highlights all that is wrong with the FA? suarez got 12 weeks and a fine for a "percieved reference " of a racial slur. Thuggo gets a third of it for admitting to using an equally heinous epithet or three. The whole FA system of investigation and due process is rank, corrupt and inconsistent. And these are the same muppets who want consistency from players and refs and fans. Hypocrites, namby-pamby mandarins, get some spine, you effing windbags. you shame the sport more than thuggo
i bet the fact that he got off in court played a role in this..they had to give something due to the fact that it is obvious that he used certain language.... but did not want to look like they were totally undermining what was said in the court of law..so as usual the FA took the easiest option. useless basterds.
If you type "The FA bottle it" into Google, you get 41,900,000 hits. That number is about to double....
Gutted he misses the game against us more than anything. If the FA got their act together like they should've at the start of the season he could've finished his ban and play against us and then had the next handshake gate with United. Shame. Damn shame
Quite surprised at that. Should've got longer, though. He'll be missing for their game against us, unless he appeals, which he probably will (assuming he can, of course).
He won't if he know's what's good for him. Even at the Emirates I'm sure he's bound to get a load of abuse if he does have the ban suspended for an appeal to be heard.
Just seen that Terry's right of appeal lasts 2 weeks so his first game of the ban will be against us, followed by 2 games of handshake-gate with United dodged and an away day at Swansea ending the ban, all in time for a battle of the racists match with Liverpool
I'm not sure whether the Chelsea fans' reaction to this is funnier than the Scousers' or not. "No proof! He's being hung out to dry by the cruel and evil FA! Free the Fulham One!" or "The FA are racist! Suarez got twice as long cos he's foreign!"? Tough choice.
Absolutely right! Suarez called Evra a little Negrito. A literal translation is little black. In this context it would be taken as littler black boy. Obviously deemed to be more derogatory than ****ing black ****!..how that the FA worked that one out, I don't know.
Four games seems a light punishment to me. Here's hoping he appeals and the FA see it as frivolous. Maybe his total lack of self-awareness will get him a bigger ban,
They couldn't remove all doubt that he wasn't repsonding to AF's accusation, I guess. Cole's witness statement has doubtless saved his bacon twice. Suarez might've stood a chance too if Kuyt's evidence agreed with his and Suarez himself hadn't lied at nearly every stage of the FA hearing.
I have the strong feeling The FA's punishment would have included a ban from the England team, which Terry got wind of and "retired" so he could portray himself as the victim. Frankly, once he did that The FA should've trebled the fine and the ban. Instead, they justified the 41,900,000 hits you get for entering this search phrase on Google.
I suppose the fact that it is one angry outburst as opposed to Suarez'' constant niggling of Evra may have been taken into account too. Also people seem to be forgetting that this conclusion has been arrived at by an independent panel, one which Terry's "people" took great pains and a lot of time to make sure the make up of which was as favourable to them as possible.
