http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/chelsea-captain-john-terrys-racism-1330208 By Martin Lipton 19 Sep 2012 09:30 Loop hole: Terry racism charge could be dismissed because it breaches FA rules Chelsea captain's legal team will argue the case should be thrown out since it goes against what's said in the Wembley rulebook John Terry's racism charge could be thrown out of the FA "court" next week - because of the Wembley rulebook. Chelsea skipper Terry faces a likely four-match ban - and significant threat to his future England career - if he is found to have racially abused QPR defender Anton Ferdinand last October when the delayed case starts on Monday. While Terry was cleared of racial abuse at Westminster Magistrates Court in July, he conceded in evidence that he had used the words "f****** black c***" in response to Ferdinand, although insisting he was angrily dismissing the suggestion that he had used such words as an insult. And it is that court case which looks likely to be used by Terry's legal team in a bid to have the entire case thrown out before any evidence is heard by the three-man Regulatory Commission. John Terry speaking with QPR's Anton Ferdinand during the Barclays Premier League match at Loftus Road The match in question: John Terry speaking to QPR's Anton Ferdinand during the Premier League match at Loftus Road Getty Paragraph 6.8 of the FA "Rules and Regulations", specifically cites of cases "where the subject matter of a complaint or matter before the Regulatory Commission has been the subject of previous civil or criminal proceedings". It adds that in such circumstances: "The result of such proceedings and the facts and matters upon which such result is based shall be presumed to be correct and the facts presumed to be true unless it is shown, by clear and convincing evidence, that this is not the case." Delivering his verdict in July, Senior District Judge Howard Riddle stated: "It is therefore possible that what he (Terry) said was not intended as an insult, but rather as a challenge to what he believed had been said to him. "In those circumstances, there being a doubt, the only verdict the court can record is one of not guilty." Terry's legal team, headed by George Carter-Stephenson QC, have been poring over the fine print of the FA regulations since the decision to formally charge the Chelsea captain was made on July 27, a fortnight after his acquittal. While Terry has remained vehement in his protestations of innocence, a position bolstered by the outcome of the Court case, it seems that even before the evidence is presented, the Chelsea skipper and his representatives will urge the Commission to dismiss the case on the grounds of a direct breach of the FA's own regulations. The FA counter-argument is likely to be that there is a strict liability rule in place for allegations of racially-aggravated misconduct and that Terry's prior statements, both in the court and his interviews with Wembley investigators, represent an admission of guilt. Ferdinand - and QPR captain Ji-Sung Park - both snubbed Terry before Saturday's goalless draw between the two clubs on Saturday, with the Rangers man also refusing to shake the hand of Ashley Cole, a defence witness in Court. Disciplinary beaks believe they can still charge Terry and that the rules do not stop them from moving forward on that basis. But it seems the case could be dismissed before it even begins, an outcome which would cause anger and indignation from Ferdinand, his family and friends, as well as campaign groups and QPR, while also igniting dormant passions on Merseyside still simmering over Luiz Suarez' contentious ban last season.
What a pathetic waste of time and money this whole episode is. Still, it has kept the JT haters and media happy.
Finally a bit of sense out of you EC. It also has the added bonus of keeping you from talking about football attendances in the late eighties.
Not for long!!! Or late 90s.... I bet Anton is as bored of it as we all are. How did Bosi play on Sat?
YOu could be right. would you say Rangers fans have gradually gone off him, rightly or wrongly (he did not report JT initially after all), since the incident? And, if so, why have they gone against Anton?
No EC, I'm a lone voice on this one. The R's fans, almost to a man, are behind him and think John Terry is guilty and should be dealt with. They've been very consistent to be fair. Its just a personal opinion of mine that if things are said on a football field in the heat of battle, apologies and handshakes afterwards should put an end to it. After all, both players were going at each other, not just one. A public statement from both players the following day that they had settled their differences after the game and that its now over, would have prevented this whole circus from taking off. I'm no admirer of JT though! He comes across as a bit of an eejit to be honest. Good defender though!
Disgraceful that the FA after being exposed time after time as a clueless bunch of ****ers would even consider an attempt to prosecute Mr JT England. At least JT showed some class by attempting to shake the idiots hand but it seems team knob head want to make it a vendetta.
This also seems logical to me, especially in this case when Anton never heard anything anyway. Whatever the truth is in all this, and it's quite possible everyone is telling the truth, the ****wit copper who caused all the grief should have learned to stay out of other peoples affairs. Instead Anton, his odious brother Rio, JT, Ashley Cole and several others have endured a shed load of grief, with no end result that anyone will be satisfied with. And the FA again look like the absolute fools they are.
If this had been any other club than Chelsea and any other player than JT, QPR would have let it go. But we are their most hated rival so it is predictable that their fans and players will make the most of it.
You are kidding arent you.?....Most of our fans dont particularly like Chelsea but are smart enough to accept we are no-where near your league yet.. Give up the sobs and hard luck stories...I personally hate Manure more than you and have many Chelsea mates..my brother and mum included. You are a big club but really dont affect our lives as much as you'd like to think you do....Yes we desperately want to beat you but can also accept losing. stick to JT's disgracefull comments and stop trying to find flimsy excuses to back the racist....! A very poor post from an obviously good poster...B-...must try harder..!
