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Post by cpr on Sept 23, 2012 20:26:10 GMT
Ray "character witness" Wilkins just insulted the nation by comparing him with Bobby Moore!!!
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Post by cpr on Sept 23, 2012 20:28:54 GMT
"The FA have made my position untenable"
Leave it out racist, you have no idea what that means. That sentence cost you about £100k to your legal team!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2012 20:57:14 GMT
"The FA have made my position untenable" Leave it out racist, you have no idea what that means. That sentence cost you about £100k to your legal team! Even better quote - I have already been cleared in a court of lawSo being cleared in that scum's eyes is the court saying we could not prove beyond reasonable doubt that he made the comment because he was repeating what he thought Anton was saying!! Also Wilkins comparing this scum to Bobby Moore how much lower can you get baldie!! & yes quits the England team the weekend before the hearing!!!..............Makes it even easier for the FA to white wash this one!!!!...............He's gonna WALK!!!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2012 21:26:59 GMT
He had just heard that FIFA wanted our players to shake hands in Brazil before the games The thought that we might get drawn in the same group as an African team persuaded him
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Post by sharky on Sept 23, 2012 23:19:22 GMT
Terry trying to take the moral high ground is like the photographer who took Kate's topless photos saying he just happened on to them!
It's no use because, JOHN TERRY WE KNOW WHAT YOU SAID, you lying Chelsea Sc*m!!
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Post by Macmoish on Sept 24, 2012 0:11:20 GMT
Pathetic www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/soccer/former-england-captain-john-terry-quits-international-football-over-racial-abuse-probe/story-e6frfg8x-1226479943126Former England captain John Terry quits international football over racial abuse probe John Terry retires from international foMonday morning Premier League goals (24/NOT OVER: Chelsea and England footballer Watch John Terry retires from international football (24/9) FORMER England captain John Terry has quit international football over a Football Association hearing into allegations he racially abused a rival player. Terry quit less than 24 hours before the start of a FA hearing into allegations he racially abused Queens Park Rangers' Anton Ferdinand in a Premier League match last year. Chelsea skipper Terry, 31, said the FA had made his position "untenable" after he had already been cleared of criminal charges emanating from the controversy which rocked the game last October. "I am today announcing my retirement from international football," Terry said in a statement. "I would like to thank the England managers who have selected me for my 78 caps. I have had great pleasure in sharing that honour with all the players that I've played with. "I would like to thank them, the fans and my family for their support and encouragement during my international career. Hillsborough tragedy tributes United down 10-man Liverpool "Representing and captaining my country is what I dreamed of as a boy and it has been a truly great honour. I have always given my all and it breaks my heart to make this decision," added Terry who made his England debut in 2003. "I want to wish Roy (Hodgson, the England manager) and the team every success for the future. "I am making this statement today in advance of the hearing of the FA disciplinary charge because I feel the FA, in pursuing charges against me where I have already been cleared in a court of law, have made my position with the national team untenable. "I now look forward to playing for Chelsea FC, and challenging for domestic and European honours, and I want to thank the fans and the club for their continued support." Central defender Terry has always denied using a racist slur against Ferdinand during a Premier League match last October and was cleared of criminal charges relating to the incident by a London court in July. The criminal action had to prove Terry's guilt beyond reasonable doubt but the judge ruled the prosection had not proved their case to that standard. An FA panel will consider the claims resulting from the match but has a lower burden of proof based on the balance of probabilities. Terry was stripped of the England captaincy as a result of the allegations and there was further controversy when he was included in Hodgson's squad for this year's European Championships while long-term England central defensive colleague Rio Ferdinand, Anton's older brother, was left out.
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Post by bp on Sept 24, 2012 4:46:34 GMT
Pathetic I am making this statement today in advance of the hearing of the FA disciplinary charge because I feel the FA, in pursuing charges against me where I have already been cleared in a court of law, have made my position with the national team untenable. What??? How many times has he played for England since the charge? If it's the charge that makes his position untenable why not make this inexcusable declaration when the charge was made by the FA rather than the day before his hearing? A pathetic attempt by a school ground bully to intimidate. Words almost fail me in regards to this sad arrogant little nobody.
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Post by bp on Sept 24, 2012 4:55:53 GMT
Pathetic I am making this statement today in advance of the hearing of the FA disciplinary charge because I feel the FA, in pursuing charges against me where I have already been cleared in a court of law, have made my position with the national team untenable. What??? How many times has he played for England since the charge? If it's the charge that makes his position untenable why not make this inexcusable declaration when the charge was made by the FA rather than the day before his hearing? A pathetic attempt by a school ground bully to intimidate. Words almost fail me in regards to this sad arrogant little nobody. Oops, how rude of me. Can I just add my thanks to that non-entity for retiring, as we will now no longer have to endure his sneering presence in an England shirt.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2012 6:06:51 GMT
He still wants to travel to Brazil if England reach the World Cup final though So if we win it he can join the team and lift the cup
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Post by Zamoraaaah on Sept 24, 2012 7:05:11 GMT
Coward and a racist.
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Post by Macmoish on Sept 24, 2012 7:08:10 GMT
Hodgson has already revealed his level character and class by his recent comments on Terry.
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Post by cpr on Sept 24, 2012 7:16:43 GMT
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Post by bp on Sept 24, 2012 7:31:59 GMT
He still wants to travel to Brazil if England reach the World Cup final though So if we win it he can join the team and lift the cup
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Post by Macmoish on Sept 24, 2012 9:23:35 GMT
FA Responds (I say ban him!) Telegraph John Terry's England position 'not untenable', claims FA general secretary Alex Horne ahead of racism hearing Football Association general secretary Alex Horne has responded to John Terry's decision to quit international football refuting the Chelsea captain's claim his "position had been made untenable". Calling time: John Terry has decided to end his international career ahead of FA hearing Photo: GETTY IMAGES By Telegraph Sport10:09AM BST 24 Sep 2012 Terry announced his decision to call time on his England career on Sunday night just hours before facing FA charges of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand. The hearing is taking place at Wembley today with Terry facing a ban of upwards of four matches if found guilty of the charge, an outcome which would have challenged the FA's authority had he then been selected by Roy Hodgson for England duty. Terry, however, has taken that decision out of the FA's hands by retiring, claiming the decision to pursue the case despite already been acquitted in a court of law, was decisive. In a statement released last night, Terry said: “I am making this statement today in advance of the hearing of the FA disciplinary charge because I feel the FA, in pursuing charges against me where I have already been cleared in a court of law, have made my position with the national team untenable." Horne, who made his way to Wembley this morning for the hearing, hit back at Terry's comments but admitted his regret at the former England captain's decision. The FA's general secretary said: "It's disappointing. I don't see how we made his position untenable. "It limits Roy Hodgson's choices. He has been playing well and done well for England. It was his decision and we respect that." Horne went on to say: "It's something that happened in a match - it shouldn't be taking a year to resolve but we feel we're reaching a conclusion on that. The delay to today's hearing has in part been because of Terry's counsel challenging the make-up of the disciplinary panel. The FA will only have one man on the panel with the rest independents including former Blackburn midfielder Stuart Ripley. Ripley, who now specialises in Sports Law with a particular emphasis on football, advises professional clubs, players and agents on a variety of sporting issues. www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/9562299/John-Terrys-England-position-not-untenable-claims-FA-general-secretary-Alex-Horne-ahead-of-racism-hearing.html
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2012 9:24:33 GMT
He still wants to travel to Brazil if England reach the World Cup final though So if we win it he can join the team and lift the cup Well no England player will lift the cup with Woy in charge!! & with half the players who we have that don't give a shit about playing for there country!!! Back to the FA hearing & scumbag Terry situation!!! Its pretty simple really!! They threw the book at Luis Suarez who claimed his comments were lost in translation which I don't believe!! Terry's comments are far worse & only a court in England would allow him to get off with the "Well I was repeating what I thought Anton said" excuse!! The FA as usual have been too slow with this one! I don't think he should have gone to a criminal court because the law is an arse & it just takes a slimy lawyer & a slimy witness like Cole (A player who is an ethnic minority & who is happy to lie under oath to defend his team mate!!) The hearing should have happened weeks after the match not months & then Terry should have been punished, banned & dropped from England!!.........Feel sick that he has been able to try a moral high ground & quit the team when he should have been thrown out last year!!!
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Post by bowranger on Sept 24, 2012 9:33:05 GMT
Above all, Terry needs to realise the FA is investigating this case because to sweep it under the carpet, or airbrush it from history, would be negligent in the extreme.
If Terry is saying that the FA should just have moved on to the next subject and ignored a case in which Kick It Out is firmly aligned to the Ferdinands, then the Chelsea captain sorely misses the point.Guardian football blog - "John Terry quits with a broken heart but he is no victim": www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/sep/24/john-terry-fa-england-disciplinary-hearing?newsfeed=true
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Post by terryb on Sept 24, 2012 9:37:04 GMT
Can somebody please explain to me how the FA have made his position untenable & what has changed since three weeks ago? If he was happy to play for England then whilst he knew that a hearing would be held what is now different?
I suspect that his legal team have informed him that he may be found guilty & to take pro-active action rather than wait for an inevitable international suspension. He may also think that he is applying further pressure on the FA to dare them to find him guilty.
The hearing could not have been held before the court case but should have been prior to the start of the season.
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Post by terryb on Sept 24, 2012 9:41:59 GMT
Thank you bowranger.
I thought that a very good & fair article.
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Post by bowranger on Sept 24, 2012 9:47:01 GMT
Can somebody please explain to me how the FA have made his position untenable & what has changed since three weeks ago? If he was happy to play for England then whilst he knew that a hearing would be held what is now different? I suspect that his legal team have informed him that he may be found guilty & to take pro-active action rather than wait for an inevitable international suspension. He may also think that he is applying further pressure on the FA to dare them to find him guilty. The hearing could not have been held before the court case but should have been prior to the start of the season. I suppose the simple answer is that his position has, like you imply, never become untenable. They stuck with him through the Euros despite a criminal investigation looming over his head and have pushed the case back further than would be considered for anybody else - whilst also maintaining the full support of the England manager (who relatively new in the role knows that he is almost certainly safe as the FA won't risk chucking him in a similar manner and so soon after Capello). To me, it's an attempt at positive PR and economic self-preservation. Like you say, there's a good chance that on the "balance of probabilities" the FA will find him guilty. It's totally disingenuous to say his position is "untenable" because it denies the fact that he, like any other player, has the basic responsibility of answering to serious accusations at an FA tribunal. The fact he was cleared in a court of law is irrelevant because the FA have a different sanction process and a different burden of proof - so it's not the same. It's like if you nicked something from work and your boss saw you do it and fired you. You can't just go "take me to a court of law, that's the ONLY authority here" because a court would likely not have sufficient evidence for a criminal prosecution. You can't just point at the court system as the only arbiter of whether something happened or not - if we did, everyone would get away with pretty much anything outside of the most obvious offences. But what you have to remember is that Terry is a celebrity footballer. He makes a shit tonne of money off football but that career is going to end soon. The next pool of money is from speaking events, endorsements, advertising, book deals and so on. He's going to make far more money if he can bill himself as "the brave, persecuted England Captain who fell on his sword to spite his oppressors in the FA" rather than "John Terry - guilty racist".
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Post by Macmoish on Sept 24, 2012 12:12:32 GMT
Hodgson disappointed! BBC John Terry's England retirement 'disappointed' coach Roy Hodgson Roy Hodgson says he is "disappointed" to learn of John Terry's international retirement but "reluctantly accepts" his decision. The England manager had Terry in central defence for all four of his side's matches at Euro 2012 and praised his "exceptional ability". "I have enjoyed a good relationship with John during my time as England manager," Hodgson added. "He had the courtesy to call me prior to announcing his retirement." Hodgson's support for centre-back Terry, who has been disputing claims of racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, extends back to his selection as part of the squad to travel to Poland and Ukraine for the European Championships. In June the national team manager praised Terry's qualities as a "warrior" and Hodgson asserted as recently as a month ago that he intended to include Terry in future England squads as his team seeks qualification for the 2014 World Cup. In a statement the Football Association thanked Terry for his "full commitment to the team... over the past decade". However, Match of the Day presenter and ex-England captain Gary Lineker believes Terry made the right move. "He says the FA have made his position untenable. [It was] probably a sensible decision," Lineker tweeted. "Whatever you think about John Terry, he always gave his absolute all on the field for England. A strong leader and great defender." Another former England captain, Jimmy Armfield, thinks Terry's retirement will be a blow to manager Roy Hodgson. Armfield told BBC Radio 5 live: "I was surprised to hear the news. "He has had a pretty strong run of England matches and it has come at a pretty difficult time for Roy Hodgson. "We are in the middle of the World Cup qualifiers and I think he needs all the good players he has got. It looks at this moment as though there is a question of loyalty here somewhere." John Terry factfile Date of birth: 7 December 1980 3 June 2003: First England cap as a substitute against Serbia and Montenegro 15 August 2004: Replaces Marcel Desailly as Chelsea skipper 19 August 2006: Takes over from David Beckham as England skipper on a permanent basis 5 February 2010: Stripped of England captaincy following a meeting with Fabio Capello 19 March 2011: Restored in the job by Capello 21 December 2011: Crown Prosecution Service announce Terry will be charged with racially abusing Ferdinand 13 July 2012: Cleared in court 23 September 2012: Announces his retirement from England duty after 78 caps On Sunday, Terry said the FA's decision to pursue charges against him meant his position with England had become "untenable". However, FA general secretary Alex Horne insisted the player's disciplinary hearing was entirely separate to his England prospects. "It's a personal decision. I don't see how we've made it untenable - they're two very separate processes," he told Sky Sports News. "It's something that happened in a match. It shouldn't be taking a year to resolve but we feel we're reaching a conclusion on that. "That's a very different process from our England procedures. They sit in different compartments and I could separate the two in my mind, but it doesn't look like he could." Former Liverpool and Republic of Ireland defender Mark Lawrenson believes the timing of Terry's decision is "pre-empting what will happen to him in his case" [the FA disciplinary hearing against him ]. "He's thinking by the end of this week he won't be playing for England anyway, so he's beaten them to it," added the BBC football expert. "Regardless of what else has gone on, he has been outstanding for England on the pitch and as a leader. "There was a time when anyone could play with him, he was that good. He's lost a little bit of pace as he gets towards the end of his career and is not quite as good, but there was a spell for John Terry at Chelsea when they were invincible. "In the last game against Ukraine when Phil Jagielka and Joleon Lescott played, England looked a little bit short. [Terry] gives you everything, not just on the pitch but in the dressing room as well and they will miss him." Former FA chief executive Mark Palios said he was disappointed with Terry's decision, but believes the void he has left behind will quickly be filled. "A lot of players will be sad to see him go, but there is one thing that happens in football and that is the graveyard is full of indispensable men," said Palios. "Another player will come along and fill the place. "With the grievance John Terry clearly feels in this case, it's not really a surprising decision." www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19696847
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Post by blatantfowl on Sept 24, 2012 16:44:57 GMT
John Terry used the "Atkinson" defense at his trial by lining up black friends who could vouch for the fact he was not a racist. Big Ron pointed out that he had signed the first ever black player to prove that he wasn't a racist.
But you don't have to be an overt racist to say something racist.
I had thought the FA should drop this but I now understand why they cannot and why an FA hearing is so different to a criminal trial. If the Kick It Out campaign say those words are unacceptable then John Terry should not have said them in any context.
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Post by Macmoish on Sept 24, 2012 17:00:11 GMT
And another ex-Chelsea boy (briefly) BBC Avram Grant is surprised John Terry is facing FA hearing Former Chelsea manager Avram Grant is questioning the Football Association's decision to charge John Terry with using racist language. Terry denies the allegation he used "abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour" towards Anton Ferdinand in a game against QPR on 23 October 2011. Terry timeline 23 October 2011: Terry releases a statement denying he made a racist slur against Ferdinand during Chelsea's defeat at QPR after videos circulate on the internet. 1 November 2011: The Metropolitan Police confirms it has launched a formal investigation into allegations of racist abuse of Ferdinand by Terry. 21 December 2011: The Crown Prosecution Service announces Terry will be charged with racially abusing Ferdinand. 1 February 2012: District judge Howard Riddle orders that Terry should stand trial in the week beginning 9 July - after Euro 2012. 3 February 2012: Terry is stripped of the England captaincy by members of the 14-strong FA board, without consulting manager Fabio Capello. 8 February 2012: Capello resigns as England manager two days after, criticising the decision to strip Terry of the captaincy. 13 July 2012: Terry is cleared at Westminster Magistrates' Court of making a racist insult to Ferdinand. 27 July 2012: Terry is charged by the FA. The case is being heard by an FA disciplinary panel at Wembley. "Nobody thinks that John Terry is a racist so the FA need to leave it," Grant told BBC Radio 5 live. Terry was cleared of racially abusing fellow defender Ferdinand in a high-profile court case in July. Grant, who was Terry's manager in the 2007/08 season, also expressed his surprise that 31-year-old Chelsea captain retired from international football prior to the hearing. He added: "John likes to fight and he's very passionate about the national team so I was surprised. "But he's not a child, he knows what he's doing. "One thing I must say about JT is that he's not a racist, that's for sure. He's a good man. "He respects everybody, he's good with people and I was very surprised that people thought bad things about him. "If [the FA] think JT is racist they need to do something but I think nobody thinks he is a guy like this. "I think the message was clear and I don't think they need to charge him. "For the FA, the more important thing is the message that it will not have racism in sport." Terry is appearing in front of an FA independent regulatory commission on Monday for a case that is expected to last two or three days. They are examining the FA charge against Terry, which includes an accusation that he also used "a reference to the ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race" of Ferdinand. The commission requires a lower burden of proof than applies in the English and Welsh courts. Terry left Wembley at the end of the first day of the hearing at 2.50pm having been represented by George Carter-Stephenson QC, who defended him in court two months ago. At July's trial, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard accusations that Terry had insulted Ferdinand, describing him as "black" and using extreme sexual swear words. In reaching a not guilty verdict, chief magistrate Howard Riddle stated it was "possible that what was said was not intended as an insult but rather as a challenge to what he believed had been said to him". The prosecution had to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Terry had used the words in an insulting manner, which it could not. But the FA only has to prove its case "on the balance of probabilities". On Sunday, Terry, who won 78 caps for England, said the FA's decision to pursue charges against him after being cleared in court meant his position with England had become "untenable", a claim disputed by FA general secretary Alex Horne. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19693874
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Post by cpr on Sept 24, 2012 17:51:57 GMT
Was there any point to that? He hardly said anything! He's not been charged with being a racist ffs!!!!
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Post by mfnc on Sept 24, 2012 20:55:58 GMT
i wish aliens would come and beam terry up and take him to their home planet 3 million light years away.
thats as nasty as i can be without sounding over the top and unbelievable.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2012 21:14:25 GMT
Hodgson disappointed! BBC John Terry's England retirement 'disappointed' coach Roy Hodgson Roy Hodgson says he is "disappointed" to learn of John Terry's international retirement but "reluctantly accepts" his decision. The England manager had Terry in central defence for all four of his side's matches at Euro 2012 and praised his "exceptional ability". "I have enjoyed a good relationship with John during my time as England manager," Hodgson added. "He had the courtesy to call me prior to announcing his retirement." Hodgson's support for centre-back Terry, who has been disputing claims of racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, extends back to his selection as part of the squad to travel to Poland and Ukraine for the European Championships. In June the national team manager praised Terry's qualities as a "warrior" and Hodgson asserted as recently as a month ago that he intended to include Terry in future England squads as his team seeks qualification for the 2014 World Cup. In a statement the Football Association thanked Terry for his "full commitment to the team... over the past decade". However, Match of the Day presenter and ex-England captain Gary Lineker believes Terry made the right move. "He says the FA have made his position untenable. [It was] probably a sensible decision," Lineker tweeted. "Whatever you think about John Terry, he always gave his absolute all on the field for England. A strong leader and great defender." Another former England captain, Jimmy Armfield, thinks Terry's retirement will be a blow to manager Roy Hodgson. Armfield told BBC Radio 5 live: "I was surprised to hear the news. "He has had a pretty strong run of England matches and it has come at a pretty difficult time for Roy Hodgson. "We are in the middle of the World Cup qualifiers and I think he needs all the good players he has got. It looks at this moment as though there is a question of loyalty here somewhere." John Terry factfile Date of birth: 7 December 1980 3 June 2003: First England cap as a substitute against Serbia and Montenegro 15 August 2004: Replaces Marcel Desailly as Chelsea skipper 19 August 2006: Takes over from David Beckham as England skipper on a permanent basis 5 February 2010: Stripped of England captaincy following a meeting with Fabio Capello 19 March 2011: Restored in the job by Capello 21 December 2011: Crown Prosecution Service announce Terry will be charged with racially abusing Ferdinand 13 July 2012: Cleared in court 23 September 2012: Announces his retirement from England duty after 78 caps On Sunday, Terry said the FA's decision to pursue charges against him meant his position with England had become "untenable". However, FA general secretary Alex Horne insisted the player's disciplinary hearing was entirely separate to his England prospects. "It's a personal decision. I don't see how we've made it untenable - they're two very separate processes," he told Sky Sports News. "It's something that happened in a match. It shouldn't be taking a year to resolve but we feel we're reaching a conclusion on that. "That's a very different process from our England procedures. They sit in different compartments and I could separate the two in my mind, but it doesn't look like he could." Former Liverpool and Republic of Ireland defender Mark Lawrenson believes the timing of Terry's decision is "pre-empting what will happen to him in his case" [the FA disciplinary hearing against him ]. "He's thinking by the end of this week he won't be playing for England anyway, so he's beaten them to it," added the BBC football expert. "Regardless of what else has gone on, he has been outstanding for England on the pitch and as a leader. "There was a time when anyone could play with him, he was that good. He's lost a little bit of pace as he gets towards the end of his career and is not quite as good, but there was a spell for John Terry at Chelsea when they were invincible. "In the last game against Ukraine when Phil Jagielka and Joleon Lescott played, England looked a little bit short. [Terry] gives you everything, not just on the pitch but in the dressing room as well and they will miss him." Former FA chief executive Mark Palios said he was disappointed with Terry's decision, but believes the void he has left behind will quickly be filled. "A lot of players will be sad to see him go, but there is one thing that happens in football and that is the graveyard is full of indispensable men," said Palios. "Another player will come along and fill the place. "With the grievance John Terry clearly feels in this case, it's not really a surprising decision." www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19696847I wish Hodgson would stop talking in support of Terry every time he opens his mouth He really is beginning to p1ss me off
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Post by Macmoish on Sept 24, 2012 22:21:20 GMT
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Post by sharky on Sept 24, 2012 23:03:55 GMT
Grant says, "Nobody thinks John Terry is racist".
Sorry to disappoint you Avram, but I and tens of thousands of QPR fans do think he is a racist.
JOHN TERRY WE KNOW WHAT YOU SAID
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Post by Macmoish on Sept 25, 2012 6:26:23 GMT
GUARDIAN Rio Ferdinand keen to make return for England after John Terry's exit
• Manchester United defender yet to hear from Roy Hodgson • Terry's FA hearing starts and expected to last a few daysEmail Dominic Fifield and Jamie Jackson The Guardian, Monday 24 September 2012 16.19 EDT Rio Ferdinand was left out of the Euro 2012 squad for 'football reasons' but with John Terry retiring, could be in line for a return. Photograph: David Cannon/Getty Images Rio Ferdinand would be open to a return to the England set-up, though the Manchester United defender has yet to hear from Roy Hodgson as to whether he will be under consideration now that John Terry has quit international football. The Chelsea centre-half came face to face with Anton Ferdinand again on Monday as the disciplinary hearing over allegations that he racially abused the Queens Park Rangers defender began at Wembley Stadium. Terry had opted to withdraw from England contention on the eve of the hearing – which is expected to stretch into the latter part of the week – a decision which has potentially left the door open for Rio Ferdinand to return to the fold having not featured at that level since the summer of 2011. The United player has never indicated a desire to curtail his 81-cap international career despite being officially overlooked by Hodgson for "football reasons" ahead of Euro 2012 amid worries that he and Terry could not share a dressing room. The England management denied that was a concern, though Terry at the time was yet to appear before Westminster magistrates' court to face a charge of a racially aggravated public order offence. The 31-year-old was found not guilty in July, with the Football Association having since pursued its own case against him. Hodgson has admitted he only "reluctantly" accepted Terry's decision on Sunday and is thought to retain some faint hope that the central defender can be coaxed back into the fold at some stage, particularly if he is found not guilty by an FA independent disciplinary commission. The England manager, who is in Warsaw at a Uefa coaches' conference, names his squad for next month's World Cup qualifying ties against San Marino and Poland at the end of next week with Phil Jagielka, Joleon Lescott and Gary Cahill his only fit recognised centre-backs, leaving Ferdinand, who impressed in front of Hodgson as United won at Liverpool on Sunday, also a potential candidate. The 33-year-old is keeping his counsel with regard to returning to the fold and would hope Hodgson moves to open a dialogue with him if he is to feature again for the first time in 16 months. It remains to be seen whether he would be able to share a dressing room with Ashley Cole, who gave evidence on Terry's behalf at the criminal proceedings over the summer and whose hand Ferdinand is not expected to shake when Chelsea play United next month. By then the results of the FA's disciplinary proceedings will be known. Terry's council, George Carter-Stephenson QC, arrived at Wembley at around 7.30am on Monday with the Chelsea centre-half in attendance well before the independent four-man disciplinary panel opened proceedings at 10am. The prosecution outlined its case, with Anton Ferdinand duly giving evidence. Also present was the Chelsea chairman, Bruce Buck, as a show of support for his player. Ferdinand departed at lunchtime, with Terry, who left at around 3pm, expected to return to the national stadium on Tuesday as the defence makes its case to the commission. It will be submitting evidence heard at the criminal proceedings, including the testimony of support from Cole. Terry, who would expect to receive a four-match ban if found guilty, denies the charge of using racist language during Chelsea's defeat at QPR on 23 October last year. He is not under consideration for Chelsea's Capital One Cup tie against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night, a game he might normally have sat out regardless of this week's timetable. The 31-year-old is understood to have spoken at length to members of the Chelsea squad and hierarchy, including the manager, Roberto Di Matteo, and the medical staff, before confirming his intention to retire from international football after a career that has spanned 78 caps and two lengthy spells as captain. His contribution drew praise from Hodgson on Monday. "I'd like to thank John Terry for his commitment to the England team since I became manager," he said. "I am of course disappointed to lose a player of John's international experience and exceptional ability. "I have enjoyed a good relationship with John during my time as England manager and I reluctantly accept his decision. I can also confirm that he had the courtesy to call me prior to announcement his retirement from the England team. I'd like to wish John well for the future with Chelsea." www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/sep/24/rio-ferdinand-england-john-terry
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Post by Macmoish on Sept 25, 2012 6:28:00 GMT
GUARDIAN John Terry's exit may be moment England begin to forge their future Young players should benefit if Rio Ferdinand fails to join Roy Hodgson's squad on the World Cup road to Rio Dominic Fifield The Guardian, Monday 24 September 2012 17.00 EDT The brief statement released by Roy Hodgson made a point of stressing John Terry's decision to retire from the England set-up had been accepted only "reluctantly". The phone call had been fielded on Sunday afternoon while the national manager prepared to watch Rio Ferdinand and Manchester United win at Anfield, the angst kicking in as soon as the line went dead. "I am, of course, disappointed to lose a player of John's international experience and exceptional ability," said Hodgson after digesting the news. Even that felt like an understatement. Terry's ability to flirt with controversy was supposed to have rendered him a toxic presence when it came to the national side and yet successive England managers have staked their reputations on the centre-half, prepared to accept all the accompanying baggage and merely rely on his strong-arm ability and unswerving self-belief. For Fabio Capello and Hodgson to have done so revealed the respect within the game for the defender's powers even if Terry is now 31 and, inevitably, slower than he was. Injuries have taken their toll in recent seasons and his game feels as if it is played from deeper these days, the back and knee twinges or nerve pain that has regularly rippled down his right leg in recent years fuelling a wariness that he can be outpaced at times. But he was still someone on whom the national team had relied in Ukraine over the summer and was clearly to be a key component of Hodgson's first qualification campaign. This was a defender who had featured in every minute of England's involvement in the past three major tournaments – albeit in a team prone to under-achieve who have never ventured beyond a quarter-final – and, whether it was a progressive enough policy or not, the management were still counting on him to help this team reach Brazil. In their eyes Terry was the best central defender available. Now, after 78 caps, he is out of the running. Hodgson has until the end of next week to draw up a squad to sweep aside San Marino and, more significantly, blunt the Poles in Warsaw with central defence now an area to be addressed. There is a short-term solution staring the manager in the face: Ferdinand was outstanding against Liverpool with a performance worthy of a player capped 81 times, if not at all since the summer of 2011. He would fill the void with his experience and classy ability to summon a tackle, pick a pass or read the game, a former captain who could inspire and reassure. Yet the recall that seems so obvious may end up ignored. That call might prove too hard even for a manager of Hodgson's years to make. Ferdinand has become embroiled in the saga that has taken down first Capello and now Terry. That was inevitable given it was his brother, Anton, who was the subject of the alleged "abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour" currently being scrutinised by the Football Asociation's independent commission, and the subject of the alleged racially aggravated language in the case dismissed at Westminster magistrates' court in July. Rio was ignored for Euro 2012 for "footballing reasons", though that always felt too convenient. Those same reasons may not now apply. Yet more intriguing would be whether Ferdinand could be reintegrated into the national set-up: he is expected to follow his brother's lead and refuse the hand offered by Terry and Ashley Cole when United play Chelsea next month, his retweet of a message that suggested the full-back was a "choc-ice" after he gave evidence on Terry's behalf at the trial having already prompted an FA sanction. Would his inclusion not prolong this unsettling story, further testing unity in the dressing room? Furthermore, while Hodgson may be a pragmatist at heart, would the inclusion of a player who turns 34 in November after an absence of 16 months not feel too regressive? For the sake of eking some kind of positive from a messy and divisive situation, Terry's decision may have to become a watershed: the time this team moved on. On the face of it England are well stocked with centre-backs. Joleon Lescott was an unsung success at Euro 2012, a player who was drafted in late once Gary Cahill had been ruled out with a cracked jaw but is a Premier League winner who partnered Terry effectively and impressively through the side's four-game involvement at the finals. Cahill himself has Terry's stature and style to his game, if not his club-mate's experience even if he is a European Cup winner where his captain, despite the medal, is not. Phil Jagielka, too, has impressed when offered an opportunity over his 14 caps, his own pairing with Lescott having been forged at Everton and adopted by Capello as a regular Plan B. The pair successfully shut out Spain in a friendly in November 2011 and England have won all but one of the four games in which they have started alongside each other. The success against Switzerland in Basel in qualification for Euro 2012 was arguably the team's most impressive of that group away from Wembley. Jagielka's Everton assistant manager, Steve Round, said Terry's departure presented "a terrific opportunity". He must consider it precisely that. That Terry has missed 10 of his country's 24 games since returning from the World Cup in South Africa would suggest life without the Chelsea stalwart should hardly be considered a step into the unknown. There have been five different combinations lacking Terry who have started matches in the last two years and, away from those relatively established names, Hodgson could point to a posse of youngsters eager to make their mark. Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Steven Caulker would hope to make an impression when fit and in form. The first two would surely have featured against Italy in Berne in August had their respective knee and metatarsal problems not ruled them out. The onus is firmly on them to prove Terry's loss is not as significant as it instinctively feels. England appeared shaky at Wembley against Ukraine earlier this month after the former captain turned his ankle in Moldova. Perhaps Jagielka and Lescott had simply lacked the proper preparation time ahead of that awkward fixture or maybe it was early-season rustiness but this was a glimpse of an England stripped of their most experienced centre-back and Cole, with their combined 176 caps. It must prove fleeting vulnerability even if nagging away at Hodgson, too, will be the reality that only Jagielka and Lescott can hope to be playing regularly for their club teams in the campaign ahead, with Terry's retirement – freeing up international windows for breathers – potentially impacting on Cahill's involvement on a weekly basis at Chelsea. That is something Hodgson may have to live with as he looks forward to Brazil. The younger pretenders may have their chance. Ferdinand might not be an option in Rio. www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/sep/24/john-terry-england-defence-roy-hodgson
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Post by bowranger on Sept 25, 2012 14:50:45 GMT
"I think the message was clear and I don't think they need to charge him.
"For the FA, the more important thing is the message that it will not have racism in sport."
That's my favourite bit. I find the juxtaposition between being accused of using racially abusive language and being "a racist" pretty weird. It's like just because Terry isn't a card carrying member of the NF with a penchant for nazi memorabilia and is "a nice bloke" that what comes out of his mouth is somehow irrelevant.
As with most things like this, as it's a celebrity footballer they focus on the rights of the accused and ignore the victim. There's a reasonable case to answer here, with evidence seeming to show Terry calling Ferdinand something racially abusive. Does the fact that Terry has some black mates mean that it ceases to be offensive? It's the behaviour that matters. It is a bullshit argument as far I'm concerned. It is the equivalent of a bloke getting pulled up on a night out for being in a pub and calling people "poofs" and "gays" in a derogatory way - then saying it can't possibly be homophobic cos he's got a gay work colleague.
Not saying there isn't a difference in terms of hardcore neo-nazis on one side and someone making a hurtful, idiotic comment on the other, in terms of what a person is like in every day life. But that doesn't change the effect of the word on the person it is directed too. It's the language and its effect that should be the focus, not Terry's F***ing personality.
If Grant thinks it is anywhere near feasible for the FA to have any credibility on racism and then ignore an accusation that a footballer has called another a "F***ing black c**t", then he's either very stupid or very deluded.
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