Latest news with #racialabuse
Daily Mail
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Anton Ferdinand tells all on his racial abuse row with John Terry in emotional podcast - as he reveals it felt like 'me versus football' and faced racism at almost every stadium amid legal battle
Anton Ferdinand has opened up on his historic racial abuse row with John Terry, claiming the fall-out left him feeling like it was 'me versus football'. The former Premier League star says he was made to feel like he was the guilty party and that he suffered more racial abuse as a result of the saga. In 2011, Ferdinand claimed Terry had used racially-charged language towards him during a match between QPR and Chelsea at Loftus Road. He admits he did not hear it at the time, but video footage led to Terry being alleged to have called Ferdinand a 'f****** black ****'. Terry was charged of racial abuse in a criminal law case but was cleared in court. He insisted he had said to Ferdinand: 'Oi, Anton, do you think I called you a black ****?' Nevertheless, Terry was stripped of the England captaincy and as hit with a four-match ban and fined £220,000 by the Football Association. Fabio Capello resigned as England manager as he disagreed with the FA's decision to defrock Terry of the armband. Now, speaking to the How Do You Cope? podcast, Ferdinand, 40, has given his recount of the day and subsequent events - including the role his mother Janice, who died in 2017, played in restraining him from confronting Terry after full time. 'On the pitch I did not hear one bit of racism. It was caught on camera on Sky Sports,' he began. 'I didn't know anything about it while the game was going on. If I had have heard it, while the game was going on, I would've have done anything, but in the tunnel after the game we would've been fighting. 'It was only when I went up to my box at Loftus Road and my mum said, "Anton, are you alright?" I was like: "Yeah, of course, we've just beat Chelsea, I'm unbelievable." My mum went: "Did John Terry racially abuse you?" "No." My wife said: "You better have a look at this and handed me her brother's phone. 'I looked at it, saw it clear as day what was said, gave it back. I'd had a conversation with John Terry just before I came up, he'd called me in to see if I knew anything about it, I didn't know anything about it, I said I'll see you at Shaun Wright-Phillips' birthday this evening, embraced him, and walked to my box. 'I saw it, gave it back, started walking back to the dressing room because I was about to confront him. The only person who could stop me happened to be at the game, which was my mum. She shouted at the top of her voice and asked me to come back. Just out of pure respect for my mum, I turned around and came back because I was boiling with so much anger. 'She said to me: "Anton, I've raised you, I know what you want to do. But if you do do that, you're going to become the problem, so don't." 'I turned on my phone, an old-school Blackberry curve, and so much information was trying to come through it that it just turned off. It's never turned on since.' He added: The FA were in contact to come and sit down with me. I had to give a statement. When I was in the meeting for that statement, that's the day I realised I was in trouble. 'They were questioning me like I had done something wrong. 'Anything that happened negatively towards Chelsea, towards John Terry, towards England... it wasn't just about Chelsea, it was about England, so every club was involved in this. It was always my fault. '(Terry) got stripped of the armband. I didn't ask them to strip him - the FA took that upon themselves. Do I think it was the right decision? One hundred percent. 'I got booed everywhere I went. The only place I didn't get booed was Sunderland, because I'd played for them and the fans know me personally, and West Ham because West Ham knew me as a nine year old kid all the way until the first team. Everywhere else in the country I got booed and hammered and heard a racial slur. 'It was me versus football, it felt like it. While he was talking and making statement after statement in the press, I was told I couldn't speak. "Don't speak, it's going to hinder the FA's hearing and conclusion." 'I didn't want the police to get involved - I wanted football to deal with it because it was a footballing matter. Let the footballing people deal with it. But the CPS people got involved and I wasn't allowed to speak because it could jeopardise the court case. 'I was having to be tight-lipped which I really struggled with.' Ferdinand posted a tweet that said 'the door was still open to chat' and asked Terry to call him Terry was charged for using racist language by the CPS in December 2011 and he pleaded not guilty when his trial started eight months later, before being acquitted. The FA then charged him for using 'abusive and/or insulting words or behaviour' which 'included a reference to the ethnic origin and or race of Ferdinand'. The five-time Premier League winner opted not to appeal the decision and subsequently apologised for the 'language used'. In a statement, Terry said: 'After careful consideration, I have decided not to appeal against the FA judgment. He added: 'Although I'm disappointed with the FA judgment, I accept that the language I used, regardless of the context, is not acceptable on the football field or indeed in any walk of life.' Terry added during his interview with Jordan that he had also attempted to speak to Anton about the incident in 2011. 'I tried to make contact with Anton that evening after the game,' he said. 'And I basically got shut down instantly from all of them. 'I knew Anton, we were mates, we knew each other and always got on well. Obviously, I got on well with Rio. We could have done something that was more powerful than what came about in the end. And that's probably my disappointment because it's [racism] is in the game. 'Clearly in the stadiums and all of that now that we need to get out for sure. We could have done something very powerful as a group of players, not only us but everybody else I think at the time.'
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Port Adelaide wants government action after Jase Burgoyne and St Kilda star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera racially abused
Port Adelaide has called for the federal government to demand 'accountability' from social media companies as two AFL clubs and the players association condemned more racial attacks. It comes as Victoria Police arrested and charged man for a racial attack on NBL star Montrezl Harrell in what was lauded as a landmark moment in Australian sport. Port's Jase Burgoyne and St Kilda star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera both called out the racial abuse they copped across last weekend. After going down to Sydney by five points on Sunday, Wanganeen-Milera was targeted by an anonymous account with a vile attack, including the words 'bro u f--king n----r'.' Burgoyne, a close friend of Wanganeen-Milera, then revealed even more horrific language used to attack him on his Instagram account, including 'tell your cousins to get jobs', 'welcome to country you f--king loser' and a vile reference to his mother. Port released a statement on Monday condemning the attacks and calling for action having referred the matter to the AFL's integrity unit. 'Such abuse is reprehensible and will not, and should not, be tolerated,' the statement said. 'The club has advised the AFL integrity department and we look forward to working closely with the AFL to identify those responsible and sanction appropriately. 'We also encourage people who witness or experience online abuse to report and highlight it to the social media platforms on which it appears. 'Port Adelaide also calls for governments to demand accountability from social media organisations. Platforms need to take accountability and action against these abusers.' AFL boss Andrew Dillon said hiding behind a fake account was 'cowardly' and the league would use its agreement with the eSafety Commissioner to address the issue. 'We have been clear that there is absolutely no place for this behaviour in our sport and in society. Racism is never acceptable and these incidents demonstrate there is so much more work to be done,' he said. 'Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Jase Burgoyne are talented footballers and remarkable young men. We acknowledge their courage to call out the hurtful and completely unacceptable remarks and offer our support to both players, their families and our broader Indigenous playing group.' St Kilda chief executive Carl Dilena said the club would work closely with the league to identify the perpetrator of the abusive messages. 'As a club we do not accept racist behaviour of any kind,' Dilena said. 'These comments are abhorrent and have no place in our game or our community. 'Beyond Nasiah's talent on the field, he is a proud Kokatha and Narangga man who deserves to work and live free from this type of abuse. St Kilda Football Club stands firmly with Nasiah, his family and all First Nations people, and we remain committed to fostering a safe and inclusive environment for everyone. 'We fully support Nasiah and will work closely with the AFL integrity unit to do everything we can to identify the person responsible for these messages.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Australian basketball first as man charged over online racist abuse
A man has been charged with racially abusing a high-profile basketball player via social media in what officials said Friday was a first for the sport in Australia. Police arrested the 37-year-old earlier this month after he allegedly sent a racist message to the National Basketball League player's social media account. Basketball Australia did not identify the player targeted, but News Corp newspapers and national broadcaster ABC said it was former NBA star Montrezl Harrell, who is currently contracted to the Adelaide 36ers. The American power forward, who was drafted by the Houston Rockets, made his name with the Los Angeles Clippers. Basketball Australia said it was the first-ever successful arrest for such an offence and "a landmark moment". "There are laws in place to govern appropriate behaviour towards athletes, and it's important the public understands that," said a spokesman for BA's Integrity Unit. "Taking a stand sends a clear message of zero tolerance and helps drive the cultural change needed to create a safe sport and respectful environment for everyone." The man was charged with using a carriage service -- such as a phone, email or social media -- to menace, harass and/or offend. He was bailed to appear before a Melbourne court on August 15. The 36ers said in a statement that the player who received the message "is aware of the arrest and is comfortable with the way the matter has been handled". "The Adelaide 36ers commend Victoria Police and Basketball Australia's Integrity Unit for their strong stance in pursuing this matter," it added. mp/djw/rsc
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Australian basketball first as man charged over online racist abuse
A man has been arrested over alleged online abuse of basketball player Montrezl Harrell, who was named by Australian media (Kevin C. Cox) A man has been charged with racially abusing a high-profile basketball player via social media in what officials said Friday was a first for the sport in Australia. Police arrested the 37-year-old earlier this month after he allegedly sent a racist message to the National Basketball League player's social media account. Advertisement Basketball Australia did not identify the player targeted, but News Corp newspapers and national broadcaster ABC said it was former NBA star Montrezl Harrell, who is currently contracted to the Adelaide 36ers. The American power forward, who was drafted by the Houston Rockets, made his name with the Los Angeles Clippers. Basketball Australia said it was the first-ever successful arrest for such an offence and "a landmark moment". "There are laws in place to govern appropriate behaviour towards athletes, and it's important the public understands that," said a spokesman for BA's Integrity Unit. Advertisement "Taking a stand sends a clear message of zero tolerance and helps drive the cultural change needed to create a safe sport and respectful environment for everyone." The man was charged with using a carriage service -- such as a phone, email or social media -- to menace, harass and/or offend. He was bailed to appear before a Melbourne court on August 15. The 36ers said in a statement that the player who received the message "is aware of the arrest and is comfortable with the way the matter has been handled". "The Adelaide 36ers commend Victoria Police and Basketball Australia's Integrity Unit for their strong stance in pursuing this matter," it added. mp/djw/rsc
ABC News
5 days ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Man arrested over alleged racial abuse of NBL star Montrezl Harrell
A man who allegedly racially abused NBL star Montrezl Harrell via social media has been charged following what authorities have described as the "first-ever successful arrest" for such an offence in Australian basketball. In a statement, Basketball Australia said the accused, a 37-year-old man from the Melbourne suburb of Huntingdale, was arrested by Victoria Police Wednesday last week. In October, Adelaide 36ers star Harrell posted on social media about racial abuse he had allegedly been subjected to by an anonymous account. The messages were sent directly to the former NBA player's social media account and Basketball Australia's integrity unit was notified of the incident. In a statement released on Friday, Basketball Australia (BA) said the unit had identified the alleged culprit and reported the matter to Victoria Police. BA said the accused had been charged "with using a carriage service to menace, harass and/or offend" and had been bailed to appear at Moorabbin Magistrates' Court on August 15. BA said it was the "first-ever successful arrest of a person in Australian basketball on charges of racially abusing an athlete via social media". "This is a landmark moment in strengthening the measures available to BA and the NBL, alongside legal authorities, to safeguard and protect athletes in all areas of public access," BA said in a statement. The 36ers confirmed the arrest involved alleged abuse against one of its players. "The Adelaide 36ers commend Victoria Police and Basketball Australia's Integrity Unit for their strong stance in pursuing this matter," it said in a statement.
