He should be sacked if he is found guilty. That's my view. His position would be untenable.

That said, there isn't much that proves beyond doubt that he racially abused Anton. The lip reader read it as 'Yes, I *obstructed* you ****ing black ****'. Immediately after, the lip reader said she couldn't rule out the use of the word 'a'. With the obstruction, it basically voids the video evidence and the lip reader accepted that her evidence was 'fundamentally unreliable'. It's also worth noting that there is no footage of what Anton says immediately before the incident, although there is footage of him trying to antagonise JT.

Anton's testament was full of rhetoric and at times was inconsistent. All he revealed was that all of these alleged comments happened in a nasty on field spat, there wasn't anything there beyond his word for it.

The case now depends of Terry's performance at the dock, any witnesses (I don't think there will be) and whether Terry can be prosecuted for simply using the language (albeit in a different tone to what is being accused).

Synfection

The case now depends of Terry's performance at the dock, any witnesses (I don't think there will be) and whether Terry can be prosecuted for simply using the language (albeit in a different tone to what is being accused).

 
Fairly certain he can. He's admitted to using it - they just have to convince the court over 'context' - although how any context in this situation can excuse him is lost on me. Even if he's repeating something sarcastically, it was said in the moment towards Ferdinand, and it wasn't jovial or light-hearted. That should be a factor. 
 
Ferdinand's story didn't hold up to an extent - but we don't know how much of that was common QC baiting and whether the Twitterati are just informing about the big punches that landed, rather than the actual substance of the exchange between Terry's QC and Ferdinand.

The thing is John Terry claims he was responding to an accusation. An accusation that Anton denies he ever made, and no camera has picked up.

It is, however, an accusation that Ashley Cole is said to have heard: "Do you think I racially abused you? I was like 'No. That never came out of my mouth'". Cole popped his head round and said: "Yeah, didn't you say that to me?". With that in mind, why on earth haven't the crown called him in to give evidence?

My point is that it's one word against another. The charge is aggravated racial abuse and nothing proves beyond reasonable doubt that the comment wasn't a denial. The lip reader couldn't rule out the use of the word 'a' (and confirmed the quote started with 'I' and ended with '****ing knobhead' which could have feasibly formed a sarcastic comment) and accepted that lip reading is fundamentally unreliable in this context, the video is interrupted at the key, key moment to contextualise the comments and doesn't show what was said immediately before. Anton's testimony only revealed handbags between the two and the fact he lied about elbowing Terry in the head (which can be clearly seen on the footage).

Are we certain that THAT Youtube clip is the only one they're basing it on?

themathemagician

Are we certain that THAT Youtube clip is the only one they're basing it on?

 
There are many angles (AVB training rageme), but I think that is the main one judging by what the lip reader came up with (and the interruptions etc.)

The new generation?
 
--------------------------Courtois----------------------
Hutchinson---------Luiz-------Cahill------Bertrand
--------------------Romeu---Oscar--------------------
---Ramires--------------Mata-(C)-------------Hazard------
------------------------Sturridge------------------------
 
I'd expect a few alterations here and there, a bit of rotation but I like that generally.

the worst you can get for a racism in public is 2 grand fine(yeh i know that tit went jail for 5mins but thats because it was different situation, she was promoting, 2, 5,10,15 , whatever is it will be pocket change to terry, then he has to look forward to a 3-9 match ban from the fa which he well deserves , Thats all whats going to happen. End of story as far as im concerned.

Syn, wheres lukaku and bertrand?

And the small matter of being branded a racist, which I'm sure Terry would trade a lot more money for.

I wouldn't say he is a racist regardless of outcome, really, I don't truly think he harbours racist views, largely due to the time and money he spends on Drogba and Desailly's charities in Africa. Doesn't excuse him for using the language or being a despicable ****, though!

The ban would need to be at least 8 matchs, precedent has been set

I can't believe the reaction to the Terry case... Especially the calls to have the FA charge him for bringing the game into disrepute. I mean look at this way, if Terry was telling the truth, which we cannot be sure of either way, he would have- lost his England captaincy, had his name slurred all over the papers further, taken an awful lot of abuse on the subject, been found not guilty in court yet he would be charged for bringing the game into disrepute? All because he made a denial and got taken to court? What absolute bull.

There are a lot of intelligent people working in various anti-racism charities, but unfortunately their voices are not being heard. All we are getting is people like Garth Crooks damning Terry for something that hasn't and cannot be proven. They are being completely blind to the facts of the case. It's such a shame, as racism needs to be stopped but you can only do that with decent constructive arguments.

Synfection
I can't believe the reaction to the Terry case... Especially the calls to have the FA charge him for bringing the game into disrepute. I mean look at this way, if Terry was telling the truth, which we cannot be sure of either way, he would have- lost his England captaincy, had his name slurred all over the papers further, taken an awful lot of abuse on the subject, been found not guilty in court yet he would be charged for bringing the game into disrepute? All because he made a denial and got taken to court? What absolute bull.

 
Didn't he admit to using the language though? 
If so, surely the FA will have silly law that they can slap on him just to make them feel they've acted appropriately? 
 
I've not really followed much of this case. 

The context of the language is surely far more important than the words used here?

If the FA want to act on concerns they have on the context of the words he used then fine, but to charge him for just using the words? That is petty and desperate. If you wanted to apply this charge for language where does it stop? Anton admits to saying some pretty vile things too. I'm sure most players do.

My point is that it's the context that makes these words racist more than the words.

Synfection

The context of the language is surely far more important than the words used here?

If the FA want to act on concerns they have on the context of the words he used then fine, but to charge him for just using the words? That is petty and desperate. If you wanted to apply this charge for language where does it stop? Anton admits to saying some pretty vile things too. I'm sure most players do.

My point is that it's the context that makes these words racist more than the words.

 
Sorry Syn but that's where you are wrong. If anyone else had said what Terry has admitted he said to Anton (regardless of the context) in any other work place, they would be sacked immediately on the grounds of gross misconduct. 
 
I don't think he's racist, but he definitely deserves punishment of some sort for using racial language. Given Anton's unsavoury comments as well I suppose there is also an argument that if you charge Terry then Anton should be charged to a lesser extent as well. 

Im so glad this whole thing has come to an end, he should be given a ban aswell i think, doesnt bother me how long tho as iv said previously i believe terry is past it and cahill has been keeping him on his toes.

All bloody week 2 page spreads on this f-king case meanwhile there murderers, pedos and all sorts of sick ****s out there who get a little 80 word part, think im gonna end up not readin the papers again. But glad this is finally over and done with.

It'd be gross misconduct to say some of the other things said too, things that are uttered by most top footballers I assume. Football isn't anything like a normal work place, though and the FA aren't an employer of professional footballers. If JT got done for the use of language, which cannot be proven to have been said in an abusive way, rather than the context (which should be absolutely key here), I'd hope we note every player that uses offensive slurs next season and report every one of them.

Synfection
If JT got done for the use of language, which cannot be proven to have been said in an abusive way, rather than the context (which should be absolutely key here),  

 
You keep going back to the context like it should be some sort of 'get out of jail free card' it really isn't. 

So you'd be happy for a player to be charged for using offensive language regardless of the context? In a denial or as a quote for example? 
 
I think the world has gone mad if that is the case. Racism was never about words on their own, it is about demonstrating racial discrimination and hatred and that is why the context should be so vital.

 
Wow. Choc Ice = Black on the outside, white on the inside. ****ing idiots. How dare Ash testify in court. 
 
Also, if Rio is prepared to make racial jibes (public, un-obstructed and in writing) what were his motives in pushing his P.R team to get involved with this case? Clearly racism isn't the issue to him.  Lets see how much coverage this gets