Ferdinands issue statement [racism]

Statement issued by New Era Global Sports

It has been a year since the incident at Loftus Road. During that time, some of the deep divisions that exist in football have been exposed. In the coming months there will be ongoing discussions, we are sure, on finding a way forward. We intend to participate in these discussions, along with numerous other current and ex-professionals of all races, from the grass roots upwards, across the football community as a whole.

On the issue of Kick It Out, we would like to go on record to say what fantastic work they have done in the past regarding education and awareness. However, times change and organisations need to change with them. We are more than happy to join the discussion, privately, to make Kick It Out more relevant in its fight to stamp out racism in football.

Although we have been left disappointed by the PFA and the FA’s actions over the last year, as a family, we are committed to working with football’s existing organisations towards the betterment of the game and to achieve immediate action.

We would like to thank all the fans and the staff at Queens Park Rangers and Manchester United for their support in what has been a difficult year. In particular we want to thank Sir Alex Ferguson and Mark Hughes.

We will not be discussing publicly any issues connected with the case. We are now going to concentrate on playing football.

– Rio and Anton Ferdinand

Race Row goes on despite Terry verdict

On Thursday 27th The FA announced that ” An Independent Regulatory Commission  has today [Thursday 27 September 2012] found a charge of misconduct against John Terry proven and has issued a suspension for a period of four matches and a fine of £220,000, pending appeal.” 

The News immediately caused a media storm across the written press , social networks and radio stations. It would be easy to jump on the media band wagon and compare the case to other verdicts and punishments but im not sure it will bring the issue to an end which  will have to wait unitll a decision on the appeal is made and not unitll the full report into the decision has been digested. An appeal will only add further fuel to a very delicate issue but without the correct punishment how do ensure that the issue of racism is eradicated from the game.

The difficulty with such cases resides with two separate issues that the FA will need to be consistent on;

1. The Punishment
2. The wider impact on football and the game as a whole which may stop the game from moving on.

In a week in which we saw the most disgusting abuse of Premier league referee Mark Halsey where does this leave the game in this country and the game as a whole?

No doubt many more questions remain for another day and debate pending the appeal decision and responses from the club and player respectively.

The Full FA article here

Your comments are welcome.