John Terry becomes victim of a Tory led twitter hunt
JOHN Terry, the Chelsea and England captain is “TOXIC”. So says the Daily Mirror. John Terry has been charged with racially abusing QPR’s Anton Ferdinand in a Premier League game in October. Terry denies any wrongdoing. The matter will come before the courts on July 9, after the end of the European Championship.
But Damian Collins, a Tory MP who sits on the culture, media and sport select committee, saw fit to tweet:
“John Terry should stand aside as captain until the case is resolved, and any doubt either way removed.”
John Terry should lose his job because of an allegation?
This is Collins who claimed £4,440.90 over three months in rent for a house in London, despite declaring that he already owned a home in the capital. A pall of doubt hung over the young Tory . Did he step down while matter were cleared up? No. He just said the home was “too small to provide accommodation for my young family, and even if that was not the case, as a new member of parliament I wouldn’t be able to claim any accommodation allowance against the mortgage on the property”.
Nice one, Collins, who presents himself as a keen anti-racist. After Terry, maybe he can tackle and expose all signs of racism in the Tory Party and Westminster as a whole? Perhaps he can ask Aidan Burley MP to step aside. Or have word with would-be Tory MP David Gold about labelling immigrants as thieves? Or ask Labour MP Paul Flynn what he means by inferring that Jews cannot represent the UK because their collective allegiance lies in Israel? Jobs in diplomacy should be given to “someone with roots in the UK“, says Flynn.
Racism is in evidence among the elite. Racism is about inequality. Look about the faces in the members’ only club, Damien. See if you can spot it. But it’s easier to hit the footballers, with their working class roots and working class fans. You want racism, Damien? You can’t handle the racism. Easier to strike an anti-racist pose on twitter. Safer.
Piara Powar also wants Terry to step aside. Powar is executive director of European football’s anti-discrimination body Football Against Racism in Europe. The acronym is… FARE. Says Mr FARE on twitter:
“Innocent until proven guilty. But should John Terry remain as England capt through the Euros? I can’t see how he can.”
Adding:
“The seriousness of the allegations mean that he can’t lead the nation. So the FA [Football Association] must do the right thing.”
The FA has already done the right thing. It has been forced to back off because the case became a criminal investigation. The police handled it – an outfit that loves to brandish its anti-racist credentials.
And how serious is allegedly calling a black man a “fucking black c*nt”? The BBC tells us:
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Terry, 31, is accused of a racially-aggravated public order offence, which carries a maximum fine of £2,500.
So. It’s not a crime worthy of a custodial sentence. Is it serious because it involves a footballer or because what Terry said is a sign that British football is ride with inequality and what one man ays in the heat of battle sums him up?
The Mirror’s toxic line stems from yet another tweet, this one by “former Blackburn striker Jason Roberts, now with Reading”. Note: not Reading striker Jason Roberts. In the court of public opinion, the Mirror thinks a Premier League player’s words carry more weight when it comes to issues of race.
Roberts tweeted a desire for Terry not to play in Euro 2012:
“Innocent until proven guilty is not always the case in football, as Rio Ferdinand found out in his case. Also more importantly, believe me, the dressing room at the Euros will be TOXIC unless the correct decision is made.”
It’s not about football, though, is it. It’s about an alleged crime – and how it being used to unite the country behind an anti-racist agenda that does nothing to combat actual racism…
Posted: 2nd, February 2012 | In: Key Posts, Sports Comments (14) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
February 2nd, 2012 at 3:17 pm
if somebody accused me of being a racist, I would be absolutely horrified. But I don’t see Terry being horrified at being labelled as such or any real backing for him on the issue by team mates present at the time? or maybe I just don’t take enough interest in tawdry little stories about overpaid arrogant idiots – either footballers or politicians? that’s no reflection on your writing credentials, by the way Anorak….
February 2nd, 2012 at 12:22 pm
he has no humility – he’s Mr Entitled
February 2nd, 2012 at 12:13 pm
…or the Ferdinand’s at last.
February 2nd, 2012 at 12:12 pm
…from me at least
February 2nd, 2012 at 12:10 pm
pps Lest we forget…part of John Terry’s job representing his country & association is to kick out so called racism…like i sid before..I still believe he will step down as captain of his country….without being a victim of sympathy…
February 2nd, 2012 at 11:52 am
…& enhance himself…
February 2nd, 2012 at 11:49 am
ps…it might even help the team.
February 2nd, 2012 at 11:46 am
… I would & did never suggest he should loose is job…I even accept the fact that this might enhance it his popular appeal…but a wise move might be for JT to just step aside from playing thie position of Captain of his country.Showing some humility would do no harm to his career,popularity or marketability..
February 2nd, 2012 at 11:39 am
percy – we don’t know the truth. we only know what we’ve been shown. Terry might be an odious, lying arsehole who should never ever have bene made England captain, but that has nothing to do with this criminal case. To lose his job because of an allegation would make him a victim…
February 2nd, 2012 at 9:44 am
It’s quite obvious that John Terry is not a victim but Anorak persists with painting him as one in it’s stories. I still believe that he will step down from the England Captaincy but will play at the Euros….the show must go on….& JT is a “victim” of being a very marketable commodity..
February 2nd, 2012 at 9:17 am
Gary – thanks. Correction made.
February 2nd, 2012 at 8:45 am
Can I just point out a small inaccuracy in the piece. The FA didn’t call in the police. The police received a complaint and the investigation stemmed from there.
It’s a tricky one, though. There’s a lot of idiocy being said around this case from both those who should know better and politicians, and no doubt more will be said before it reaches its conclusion. Despite the slightly hyperbolic language, though, Jason Roberts probably has a point that the dressing room won’t be entirely comfortable with Terry in it. Whether that’s enough reason not to take him when nothing’s yet been proven in a court of law… well, that’s for others to decide.
Different companies would deal with allegations like this differently, but you suspect a fair few would have either launched their own investigation or suspended the employee until the case was proven. Although, again, whether that’s the right thing to do is open to debate.
I don’t envy the FA or Capello. They’ve been handed a tricky situation that is none of their doing. For the FA, it’s not practical to make their own judgement and take action (or otherwise) until proceedings are over. The judge putting the case back didn’t help. It would be best for all concerned if the Terry case had been heard sooner rather than later.
February 2nd, 2012 at 8:23 am
No. Surez was found guilty. He played until the judgement. Terry’s case has yet to be judged…
February 2nd, 2012 at 8:12 am
I don’t understand this at all. Why is Who at all the Pies protecting and defending John Terry, when all it did was bag the shit out of Luis Suarez over the EXACT SAME THING?!! Where is the equality here? I am both disgusted and disappointed. Perhaps Pies needs to see things from the eyes of others instead of being biased towards their precious England players. Pathetic.