Racism in English football?

[yorker_129-7]

I'd urge caution in trying to use Ashley Cole as some sort of moral barometer...

[mikesiva]

There's more....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19670097

"Chelsea have condemned alleged racist abuse received by John Mikel Obi on Twitter after their 2-2 draw against Juventus in the Champions League."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19669979

"Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas expects Uefa to investigate alleged racist chants from Lazio supporters aimed at striker Jermain Defoe during Thursday's Europa League encounter. Monkey chants were heard from sections of the away support in the 0-0 draw."

[Gingerfinch]

Without wishing to generalise. The Italians are renowned for this sort of behaviour and you won't stop SOME of them.

[mikesiva]

Maybe UEFA should up the penalties for teams who have supporters who resort to this sort of behaviour?

If you can be kicked out of Europe for fans who are hooligans (English teams in the 1980s?), then is it time to do the same to teams whose supporters are perennially racist?

John Terry has been charged by the FA.

I think those of us who are claiming Terry has been proved innocent by a court of law are forgetting this....he's due to face his charge next week:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ds-newsxml

Suarez was found guilty by the FA, not a court of law. The burden of proof in a court of law is much greater than in an FA hearing. The unfortunate thing with racial abuse and the law is that you can be verbally abused, and once there's no one to corroborate it, then you cannot get a successful prosecution. I know this, because two thugs racially abused me, and when I reported it, the police officers apologetically informed me about the likelihood of a prosecution on this basis.

But I know what I heard, and what was shouted in my face, and I would never shake the hands of those abusers ever again. So, I fully support any decision by Anton not to shake the hand of any player he feels has racially abused him....

[yuppie]

Lazio should be punished, i would like to see harsher bns given when certain teams supporters continue in this way.

Maybe the return leg should be played in a empty stadium. IF it happens again, then ban the team from european compititions for a year. That will soon put an end to this type of behaviour.

[dan08]

John Terry has retired from international football.

@BenSmithBBC: "John Terry says decision to retire from England duty comes ahead of FA case against him, which has made his position untenable"

[Alviro Patterson]

Shame really, still a top class centre back at international level.

[Gingerfinch]

Shame really, still a top class centre back at international level.

Gotta disagree with you there, Alviro. Been past his best for a couple of year now and is getting slower as I type, although for all his behaviour, he was a top CB in his prime.

[ddb]

Gotta disagree with you there, Alviro. Been past his best for a couple of year now and is getting slower as I type, although for all his behaviour, he was a top CB in his prime.

[yorker_129-7]

No loss as a player. Too slow, gets caught out by quick forwards more and more often, has had discipline problems as a result in recent months for Chelsea.

Interesting timing, indicates either he has been told the FA will find him guilty and ban him and he's either got wind and fallen on his sword to steal their thunder or has done so to be allowed to leave "on his own terms", or alternatively it means that he expects the FA to find him guilty, which means he would know he's guilty as sin and stands no hope of either prevailing tomorrow or winning on appeal.

[Making_Splinters]

To be honest I don't really think he gives a monkey's what the FA and their "balance of probabilities" say.

[andy]

Shame really, still a top class centre back at international level.

Gotta disagree with you there, Alviro. Been past his best for a couple of year now and is getting slower as I type, although for all his behaviour, he was a top CB in his prime.

[Aidan11]

I have to say I'm not shedding any tears over his decision.

[mikesiva]

No loss as a player. Too slow, gets caught out by quick forwards more and more often, has had discipline problems as a result in recent months for Chelsea.

A good assessment...Terry has done England a favour by retiring.

[englandmad666]

JT still is a excellent centre back as he showed in the summer in euro 2012, but his pace had gone and this is a good decision as it allows the road to be cleared and for us to focus on a new centre back pair.