John Terry cleared of racial abuse
Chelsea Captain John Terry has been acquitted of racially abusing Queens Park Rangers’ defender Anton Ferdinand during a Premier League game on October 23rd last year. Chief magistrate Howard Riddle cleared the 31-year-old former England skipper of a racially aggravated public order offence at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
Mr Riddle said the case was not about “whether Mr Terry is a racist in the broadest sense of the word”. He said he had heard a great deal of evidence to show that he is not. Terry made no comment after the verdict but was cheered by a small group of Chelsea supporters as he was driven away. The Crown Prosecution Service defended the decision to prosecute but agreed to “respect the Chief Magistrate’s decision.”
Mr Riddle said the prosecution presented a strong case but that it had not been possible to be certain of what had been said and that “It is a crucial fact that nobody has given evidence that they heard what Mr Terry said or more importantly how he said it.” He added that “It is possible that what he 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.”
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.” Terry’s lawyer, Dan Morrison, issued a statement saying: “The court has today acquitted John Terry of all charges. He has consistently explained his position to the FA, the police and to the court. He did not racially abuse Mr Ferdinand and the court has accepted this.”
The case was controversial from the outset, causing the Football Association to relieve Terry of the England captaincy, a decision that Fabio Capello felt was wholly wrong and led to his resignation. The Football Association said it will now “seek to conclude its own inquiries” into what happened. If Terry has the support of his club, some former professionals and commentators are not entirely convinced.
Paul Elliott, an ambassador for anti-racism campaigners Kick It Out, 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 Tottenham footballer and BBC presenter Garth Crooks believes that Terry should still face action from the Football Association. He said that “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.” It is likely to be at least a week before the FA make a decision on any disciplinary action against Terry. Liverpool’s Luis Suarez was banned by the FA last season for racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra but that case did not go to court. There was widespread criticism for the way it was handled. John Terry’s problems may not be over just yet.
