John Terry trial: Anton Ferdinand says racism hurtful

 

John Terry arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court

Anton Ferdinand has told a court he would have been "very hurt" if he had heard John Terry racially abuse him.

Chelsea and England footballer Mr Terry, 31, is charged with a racially-aggravated public order offence - an allegation he denies.

It relates to a comment allegedly made by the Chelsea captain to the QPR defender when the teams played at Loftus Road last October.

The trial, set to last five days, is at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

If found guilty, the maximum sentence Mr Terry could receive is a £2,500 fine.

It is alleged that the Chelsea defender insulted Mr Ferdinand by calling him black with the use of extreme sexual swear words.

Mr Ferdinand told the court that initially he did not think any racist terms had been used.

But after the match, his girlfriend at the time played him a YouTube clip and he changed his mind.

The QPR defender told the court that if he had realised at the time he would have told officials.

"I would have been obviously very hurt and I probably wouldn't have reacted at the time because, being a professional, you can't do that.

"I probably would have let the officials know what happened and dealt with it after the game," he said.

"When someone brings your colour into it, it takes it to another level and it's very hurtful."

Under cross-examination, Mr Ferdinand said he was no stranger to being sworn at and agreed he had also sworn at players.

The alleged racial obscenity was spoken during a match at Loftus Road

 

At the QPR home match on 23 October, Chelsea were down to nine men when Mr Ferdinand and Mr Terry began trading insults over a penalty claim, the court heard.

Asked why he was so angry with Mr Terry appealing for a penalty, Mr Ferdinand, describing himself as a "calm, collected player", said: "Because I am a winner."

Proceedings in court have been punctuated by swear words but Mr Ferdinand insisted he did not use those words off the pitch.

George Carter-Stephenson QC asked the witness if by shouting abuse at the Chelsea player he was "trying to get a rise out of Mr Terry and get him to react?"

"Probably, yes," responded Mr Ferdinand. "There wasn't long left in the game."

The QC suggested that Mr Ferdinand had made up the allegation of racism as swearing at him and talking about his alleged affair was not having "the desired effect" of winding Mr Terry up.

Mr Ferdinand denied this.

The Chelsea captain was allowed out of the dock into the well of the court to view footage of the alleged insult.

Credits: www.bbc.co.uk