How plausible do we find John Terry's defense?

[Condover]

That he was only repeating words Anton Ferdinand has accused him of saying.

I can't imagine saying those words ever. I'd be very upset to be accused of saying them, but I wouldn't repeat them in my denial, but then I'm not John Terry....

limited - as has been amply demonstrated over the years, 'we can all be dogs on the internet'.

I'm married to a mixed race man.We both believe in free speech and have children.

I don't give a dam if you're white, black, yellow, or any othe colour under the sun. If someone accused you of what John Terry was accused of i would still turn up in court to support you.

I'm relieved by that, ironman. That you'd defend me if I was charged with racist abuse. Thanks for that clarification.

Ironman I'm confused. Did you support JT because of the context of the case? For example if there was a way to prove he knew AF hadn't accused him of it on the pitch. Would you still think it was a case of free speech?

Thats what i dont get ironman,from you very first post on this subject it was obvious you were convinced of Terry,s innocence.How and why?You hadnt heard half the case when you declared you knew who you believed.

Maybe ironman should be the Mn appointed court reporter for all celebrity court cases?

goonie if you think there's a gap in the market for a news organisation publishing their own version of events hours late, put it up to Dragons' Den. Me? I'm not going to say a word

He has been cleared in a court of law but the FA has stated that their enquiry into the incident will resume next week so it might not actually be the end of it.

He was found NOT GUILTY!! There's some pretty nasty posts on this thread, interesting you can be so superior in your views and expressing them that you yourselves turn into ugly bullying cowards hiding behind a computer screen. I'm going to hide this thread now as it was once an interesting discussion, now it's just ugly.

Not sure how your 'support' would have helped Iron.

This was a bullshit case and Terry and Ferdinand will get their fair share of 'abuse' for the forseeable future from the many thousands of similary racist and bigoted football 'fans'.

Well, Charlie, it IS ugly because stated racism IS ugly. If you don't like racism being directly challenged then perhaps you should hide the thread.

The FA can't really do anything surely? He's been found not guilty and has to be treated as such by the FA.

The only thing they could do is fine him for foul or abusive language but then I think they would be making an example of him as you see footballers swearing all the time.

Pan,

Your virtuous stand against racism, on an internet forum, would perhaps be better received without your bullying your points of view.

Yougoonie I would still support JT even if it was proved he had said it. On a few occasions I have had abuse about me and my husband. Sometimes not even in this country, i did not like it, but people have a right to make comments whether I like it or not.

I would never ever go to to police about this issue.

i would only ever report an issue like this if it was ongoing or involved violence. Or involved long term abuse of my children. A childish remark or remarks, would not concern me.

Actually people do not have the right to make comments about you if those comments are of a racist nature,by doing so they are comitting a criminal act,we will never stamp out racism in this country with attitudes like this.

Iron,

You're not helping yourself now,

People do not have a right to make racist comments although I agree, if only once then walk away but why on earth would you support John Terry, he can obviously handle himself and his business.

Also if someone makes a racist comment once and it is ignored, could that not encourage them to make more, perhaps thinking that nothing is going to be done about it?

AHEM

depends on your life situation Goonie,

You can't run around fighting every derogatory comment and why should you but each to their own.

Once shame on them, twice shame on me and so it goes.

Goonie, you didn't need to say p c,

you're straying in to John and Anton territory now, although I get your point.

Raeday - I'm not bullying - I'm maybe being better analytically, 'forensically' and making more sense than ironman, but bullying? Nope.
As a related bit, if it were the case,I don't think you can bully a stated racist enough.

No not every derogatory comment but it depends on the situation, the people involved etc etc. However, I am just being honest when I say I don't think I could sit by and watch it happen to anyone especially my own child.

I also struggle to understand how the colour of somebody's skin can still be used as an insult. It's mind boggling.

I said that Raeday as that was the language used in the case we were originally discussing. That is an extreme example but one that is used.

I imagine this sort of language is heard all the time on the terraces

Well, you're wrong. The clubs have worked damn hard over the years and it isn't heard now. That's the point. It would get you banned from the ground and, if they had video evidence, prosecuted.

And Terry is about as believable as Scientology.

Pan,

You know you can articulate your point better than Iron, you could be a little more gentle in doing so to better affect but who am I to criticise your approach, it's nice to have someone to talk to for me.

Bullying a racist though!? not sure what the Christians would say about that though.