Terry cleared of racism charge
Chelsea captain John Terry leaves Westminster Magistrates' Court after he was cleared of hurling a racist insult at QPR player Anton Ferdinand
Footballer John Terry has won one of the biggest battles of his sporting life after being cleared of hurling racial abuse at another player.
The wrong result would have wrecked the Chelsea defender's England career, destroyed his reputation and potentially cost him a fortune in sponsorship and other deals.
But instead, he walked out of Westminster Magistrates' Court with a not-guilty verdict, though without the full backing of some footballing figures.
The 31-year-old was acquitted of a racially aggravated public order offence by Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle at Westminster Magistrates' Court.
It was alleged that he had called Anton Ferdinand a "f****** black c***". But Terry claimed he was sarcastically repeating a slur that the QPR defender mistakenly thought he had used during a Premier League Match last year.
After the verdict, Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck said: "We are pleased that John can now put his mind to football and go back to training and do what he's done for many years."
Dan Morrison, Terry's lawyer, issued a statement saying: "He did not racially abuse Mr Ferdinand and the court has accepted this."
The Football Association said it will now "seek to conclude its own inquiries" into what happened, but Paul Elliott, an ambassador for anti-racism campaigners Kick It Out, said the whole episode had painted football in the worst possible light.
The former Chelsea player said: "There's no winners in this situation. Football's a wonderful way for people to express themselves, break down barriers, challenge a lot of areas around all forms of discrimination and prejudices so it's very sad we're here witnessing this sad and sorry outcome."
Former footballer and BBC presenter Garth Crooks said Terry should still face action from the FA. "I believe it was wrong of him to say these words under any circumstances - and though Terry has been found not to have committed a criminal offence, the FA must now decide whether the former England captain should be charged for contravening its own rules."
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What a terrible couple of months for all the Chelsea haters on here! First, Chelsea confirmed as European Champions, then JT found not guilty of racist behaviour.
Now all the sad losers like Alli B & Greg Hotmail can't accept a courts decision and want the FA to charge Terry as well!
Give up, he's innocent and it's been confirmed in a court of law
Gillian, you should be proud of the British Justice system. It would be time to be ashamed of it if convictions were handed out on the dubious evidence and one sided supposed racial equality in this case.
You know, I know and everyone else knows if AF had called JT a white C**t then the CPS wouldn't have wanted to know.
Any abuse that happened that day was started by Anton Ferdinand and I am glad one post mentions "why should anybody be placed in a position where they are being abused"
The referee ought to have nipped this in the bud and booked and warned Anton Ferdinand about his conduct and abuse against John Terry on the field of play or else sent him off. John Terry should not have been abused like this in the first place.
As Terry has been found innocent of racism in court then the FA can only try to charge him with swearing to appease the PC brigade, as both players were guilty of this and Ferdinand started it then its only fair that they both get punished or neither one gets punished. I hope there isnt going to be double standards and positive discrimination occurring.
The banter that went on between the two goes in in most sports.....rugby, ice-hockey, grid-iron, basketball. Even cricket, where they try and give it a measure of respectability by calling it "sledging". As a sportsman, if you can get under an opponents skin and effect the was he plays, its a result. And remember.....its not against the rules of the game. This was the result of ones man's complaint made after he watched the incident on tv. he should have better things to do with his life. Where will it end? God only knows?
Ferdinand and Terry both dished it out. The problem is.....the PC brigade, human rights campaigners etc...are ruining this country. Im just suprised the health & Safety lot didn't try and muscle in on the case. To coin a phrase slightly ironically ....you have to be whiter than white these days when your in the public eye.
I have no axe to grind with either side in this matter and IF Terry did indeed racially abuse Ferdinand then he should have been punished. HOWEVER, I belive that the whole 'race' issue is starting to get out of hand with accusations being made at the drop of a hat. The problem is becoming almost as bad as 'diving'.
My main issue is that the whole issue of racial abuse in football (and in society) seems to be primarily aimed at white players / people. Can anyone recall a case of a coloured / black player being accused and or prosecuted for racial abuse or provocation? Until this bias is addressed, racism will only get worse
It is now down to the FA to charge Terry........Suarez got found guilty without any concrete evidence...If they do not find him guilty, then they are making a total mockery of their Respect campaign.....All the kids will be going round repeating his crude vulgar sentence.....as a non-guilty fa charge will be as good as telling the youth of today that it is ok to say these words to other players on the pitch.......
