Former England captain John Terry is found not guilty of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand during a match between Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers.
There were cheers in a packed courtroom as the Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle read out his verdict. Anton Ferdinand was not in court to hear the verdict because he is in Malaysia for pre-season training.
The England and Chelsea defender was acquitted of calling Ferdinand a “f****** black c***” during a Premier League game on October 23 last year.
Giving his verdict Mr Riddle said the case was not about “whether Mr Terry is a racist in the broadest sense of the word”.
He said he had heard a great deal of evidence to show that he is not.
“It is understandable why Mr Terry wants to make this point, his reputation is at stake,” he said.
Mr Terry made no comment as he left the courthouse to cheers from an assembled crowd, but later, his lawyer Dan Morrison issued a statment: “The court has today acquitted John Terry of all charges. He has consistently explained his position to the FA, the police and to the court.
“He did not racially abuse Mr Ferdinand and the court has accepted this.”
The Football Association said it will now “seek to conclude its own inquiries” into what happened. But Paul Elliott, an ambassador for anti-racism campaigners Kick It Out, said the whole episode had painted football in the worst possible light.
The former Chelsea player said: “There’s no winners in this situation. Football’s a wonderful way for people to express themselves, break down barriers, challenge a lot of areas around all forms of discrimination and prejudices so it’s very sad we’re here today witnessing this sad and sorry outcome.
“It’s about learning the lessons and ensuring that this type of situation doesn’t come into a court again.”
Read more – Channel 4 News Sports Reporter Keme Nzerem considers the evidence and arguments put forward during the trial: “An insult about “shagging your team-mate’s missus” as Mr Ferdinand had put it a few moments earlier in the same argument, accidentally became a high profile case of racist abuse that has moved from the football pitch, through the television cameras, to the courtroom.”
In his judgement, the chief magistrate made clear that his job had not been to decide if John Terry is racist but to decide whether he could be sure that Terry uttered the words “f****** black c***” by way of insult.
The Crown Prosecution Service defended the decision to prosecute the former England captain. Alison Saunders, chief crown prosecutor for London, said: “The very serious allegation at the heart of this case was one of racial abuse.
“It was our view that this was not ‘banter’ on the football pitch and that the allegation should be judged by a court.
“The chief magistrate agreed that Mr Terry had a case to answer, but having heard all of the evidence he acquitted Mr Terry of a racially aggravated offence.
“That is justice being done and we respect the chief magistrate’s decision.”
Leaving court, Anton Ferdinand’s parents, Julian Ferdinand and Janice Lavender, who attended every day of the trial, declined to comment. Mr Ferdinand said: “I have nothing to say to you at all.”
Court is packed. Numbers have been strictly limited all week but allowances made for exceptional public interest in verdict. Standing only
— keme nzerem (@nzerem) July 13, 2012