FA Right To Charge John Terry

What a load of cobblers.

We’re talking about a sport here.

We’re not discussing a group of vigilantes who hold a kangaroo court and decide to tar and feather a gang of kids who have been unruly outside the local Spar. That’s certainly out of order.

But a sport makes its own rules and sets its own punishments. I don’t actually see what is wrong with that in the main. A gardening society or a brownie pack would do exactly the same provided they were not infringing the law of the land. Who else would do it? The government funding it through the tax system? Prince Charles? Jamie Oliver? Mary Portas? Rumpole of the Bailey?

Think locally, and that suggests the South Devon League or the Devon FA wouldn’t be able to make decisions about discipline. Right, chaps, find an independent panel of experts. In that case sign me up because I'm independent enough to ask for £500 a day plus my tea at Sainsbury’s Penn Inn once I’ve dispensed summary justice at Coach Road.

That’s clearly a nonsense for everyday cases. But for something more serious?

You know, listening to certain people, I do think too many of us have lost sight of football being just football as opposed to, say, international warfare. I’m listening to Radio Lancashire at the moment and I’ve heard a bloke talking about going to “hell and back” as a Blackburn supporter these last twelve months.

What?



That’s unbelievable.

In fact I’m cautious about believing it all.

So an online search. This comes from the Evening Standard:

“Out of 473 cases heard by an FA independent commission in 2011, only two ended without punishment.”

Now, two points about that.

Firstly, 473 isn’t 5,000. But it’s still a lot. And 471 out of 473 is a somewhat sizeable proportion.

Secondly, this report includes the words “independent commission” which are absent from a lot of similar reports. Those words are, of course, absolutely crucial.

At this point it gets hazy. Contrary to what I’ve said above, here’s an example of a sport going outside the game to make judgements. You could, I suppose, applaud that.

But it suggests a cut-off point somewhere in the equation. Mundane cases are heard within; for awkward ones bring in other people.

But who chooses the experts and when to engage them? Well the FA, of course, and it’s said they only do this when they’ve a good chance of winning the case. And if the FA doesn’t, who does? How can you force the FA to refer certain cases outwards?

I don’t know. It’s not simple, is it? Maybe an Independent Sports Adjudication Board funded - and supported - by the governing body of each sport and the lottery? Perhaps that's the answer although football would be more able to put in cash than table tennis or large-bore shooting. I also imagine a lot of the cases - especially the most high-profile - would be from football.

But these debates can bring a smile to my face because I wouldn’t mind betting that at least half of the people who make these radio phone calls – the ones who yell “it’s an outrage. Something should be done about it!” – are exactly the ones who moan about government inference and useless pen-pushing bureaucrats sticking their noses into our business.

So yes, folks, we’re talking state socialism as the solution. Quite possibly along the lines of the former East Germany. Let’s have a Stasi sports informer on every touchline noting which cases should involve the Internal Ministry of Sports Justice.

It’s the only way.

Thanks for that, Dave.

If it's David Mellor it will be cobblers.

In my humble opinion naturally.

Yeah, let's decide what we think after listening to some guy with a link to the FA and David Mellor have a conversation between the Beegees and Billy Joel.

So true. The reason I wasn't around to see Barton after the match today was that I left early after an altercation with a racist in the home end. After the second incident I gave him a warning that if there were a third I would report him to a steward and get him thrown out. Can you guess what happened?

My message to any fan in this situation is that I don't blame you if you decide, for the sake of a quiet life, to sit tight and say nothing, because, believe me, if you do decide to act then absolutely no-one is going to thank you for it.

Thanks Nick and well done to you too.

Interestingly what happened today was exactly the Terry incident in miniature. We were sat in front of a foul mouthed yob who was effing and blinding throughout the game (just like Terry) but who developed his abuse from useless effer to useless black effer when he chose Tendayi Darikwa as his target. The first time I thought I might have misheard (I was after all going deaf by this time) so I let it go, but when he did it again that was when I gave him a warning. "Effing report me to t'stewards then, you effer" was his response, so I effing did just that.

The upshot of all this was that, after he had also landed me a non-painful and frankly pretty pathetic punch to the back of the head, he was ejected from the ground.

The most painful thing about all this, though, is not so much encountering one stupid racist. As Nick discovered on the train, it is the utter lack of support from everyone nearby which hurts most. Not a single other spectator accepted that the use of an insult with reference to colour was offensive. It was as if the Suarez, Hylton and Terry cases had never been reported at all.

After a non-racist but similarly unpleasant altercation at Hillsborough last season I decided not to watch Chesterfield play away any more on the grounds that I have better things to do on a Saturday afternoon than to spend it among hooligans. I haven't really enjoyed watching football ever since, apart from when my Torquay friends made me feel welcome at the Argyle match. After today I don't think I shall be visiting the Spireites' home ground either. The racists, yobs, gobshites and cowards have won. It's their ground now; I have had enough.

Oh, and with respect to the title of this thread: Yes, the FA was right to charge John Terry. It's just a shame they didn't hand him a much longer suspension.

I certainly have not decided anything after listening to some guy with a link to the FA and David Mellor have a conversation between the Bee gees and Billy Joe as you put it Lambie. I listen to the J.Vine show everyday week day as I just like listening to debate and the view points others may hold. For me taking the time to listen to the view points of others, allows me to consider my own views and question them if need be.

As it happens I found myself disagreeing with much of what David Mellor was saying and would add that in my opinion, Terry should have been found guilty in court and the FA should have thrown the book at him much harder.

We know it has been said that The "leniency" of John Terry's ban for racial abuse could cause black players to question whether authorities are really tackling the issue. It could also be the case after hearing what happened to wildebeeste yesterday, that some in this country now feel as Terry got away with it in court; it’s alright for them to carry on as before.


I think it would be foolish for anyone to think this country is not full of many people who are guilty of racial hatred, all that is happened in my opinion is that because its been made to seem totally unacceptable which it is, it has gone more underground but not gone away If anything what I read and indeed some of the things others have said to me, it might be the case things are getting worse and one day we could see real trouble in this country.

I live in a mainly white area, but have heard people here say such disgraceful things such as “ they are slowing moving in here” I know what they mean and do challenge anyone who I hear saying that, but what surprises me is these people who say such things, are the last ones I would expect to be racist.

Maybe its all down to the PC factor, you take gay people for example, we now live in a world where you are expected to not have any views against them, my own views by the way are each to their own and while I may not understand it, its not for me to judge them or look at them in anyway other than I would someone who was straight.

But those who are homophobic, their views have not changed and all that happens these days is they are careful who they talk to about their feelings, once again an example of nothing really changing, but more going underground. That for me is not something that’s good, its far better knowing who holds any views as then you can know where any dangers really are.

I’m not religious in anyway, but if there is a god then we are all gods’ children no matter what colour or race we are, we should only ever judge anyone by who they really are as a person and nothing else and we most certainly should never abuse them in anyway.

Racial abuse is a CRIME and the message needs to be given out loud and clear in this country of ours, do it and you will pay a very high price. Fining someone what is just over a week’s wages is not good enough and I would have banned him for life from the game.