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Terry charged by FA for racial abuse

Terry (Getty Images)

If you thought the John Terry-Anton Ferdinand saga was over, think again.

Two weeks after Terry was found not guilty of racially abusing the Queens Park Rangers defender by an English court, the FA has charged Terry with racial abuse just hours before England is set to officially open the Olympic Games with the opening ceremonies in London. The Chelsea captain immediately denied the charge, telling Press Association Sport that "I deny the charge, and I will be requesting the opportunity to attend the commission for a personal hearing."

Terry, who scored a goal for Chelsea in the MLS All-Star Game, is still eligible to represent England until the matter is closed. Even though the Terry-Ferdinand incident happened last October, the FA claims it was waiting until the criminal trial was over before issuing its charge. For a reference point of what could be facing Terry, the FA banned Liverpool's Luis Suarez eight matches and fined him £40,000 for being found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra last year. 

What do you think of this development? What do you think is the appropriate punishment for Terry?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Yeah, the good intentions behind political correctness can turn ugly very easily, unfortunately. The court (lol) has found him innocent of being a big meanie, so the FA should leave the poor guy alone.

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  2. Someone needs to send Ferdinand a pacifier for being such a baby. Im so tired of this new version of the Salem witch trials…

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  3. My understanding is the precedent set after the Suarez review was that intent wasn’t taken into account by the FA, just the fact he said it. The court deemed Terry wasn’t being malicious but they can’t deny he said what he said. If that’s the case you can expect a ban to be coming.

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  4. And just to be clear, I think a lot of what the US does is ridiculous, so I am not waving the flag and pounding my chest…

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  5. You realize if this was England I could have you criminally charged? (Kidding!)

    But clarify – do you agree that this should have been an FA matter and not a criminal case? Just would like to know

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  6. Well, we’re going to have to disagree on that one. I do like our way better but can’t condemn theirs as ridiculous. Just a different view. Cheers.

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  7. No, I’m going to stick with ‘ridiculous’. From the official secrets act which inhibits freedom of the press to report on government malfeasance through speech restrictions that make a criminal case out of someone for being a racist a-hole…yup, I’m willing to go on record that the UK is wrong and that this should ALWAYS have been an FA disciplinary matter

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  8. agree, except for the ‘chelsea fan’ part.

    but #4, especially. how ridiculous would it sound if they punish someone for something that a court has already found them not guilty of?

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  9. Bahahahahahhahahahhahahahahhah 8 game banhammer inc… bahahahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahah ah ahhahahahahah hahahahahahhahahahah takes a deep breathe bahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahaahahahah ha afuck john terry racist prick!

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  10. Tony, I’d say that the lack of protected free speech in England is different from here and surprising to Americans, but to say that it is ‘ridiculous’ is kind of harsh. It’s their country and their laws (many of which serve as the basis for all modern law).

    I agree that the FA should have moved sooner though.

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  11. This is the proper forum for punishing Terry (if found guilty) NOT a court of law. It’s ridiculous that England does not afforded freedom of speech protection the way we do. Unfortuantely, the idiocy of a criminal trial simply creates sympathy for the guy and makes people tired of hearing about it. The FA should have moved swiftly, made a finding, and moved on.

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  12. Wow mixed emotions here.

    In rough order of importance:
    1. I detest racist stupidity
    2. I’m not sure what he said was “racial abuse” or merely nasty and vulgar abuse.
    3. I’m sick of hearing about this.
    4. Odd that he was cleared and still charged by the FA
    5. I really don’t like Terry
    6. I’m a Chelsea fan.
    7. I really don’t like Terry
    8. I detest racist stupidity.

    Sheesh, this is tiring.

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