As Race-Gate continues to rumble on with Suarez’ refusal to shake Evra’s hand in the match this weekend, I wanted to give you my perspective.  I have been on the receiving end of racism throughout my career and anyone who read about my most recent encounter at PAOK will know that I prefer to take the wind out of the abuse.  Every player is entitled to deal with it in the way they see fit.  What has amazed me with the recent Suarez and Terry cases is the way that the fans have responded.
The official word is that racism is unacceptable in today’s society and we are trying to fight it with initiatives such as the ‘kick it out’ campaign but all of this is just ‘words’ if it isn’t supported by the fans.  Last weekend hearing the Chelsea fans booing Rio Ferdinand because his brother is alleged to have received racial abuse from one of their squad was astounding to me!  Fans are so quick to judge footballers and their ‘lack of moral compass’, just look at the reaction when Rooney swore to the camera in a moment of passion, yet they seem to lack one themselves.  In any other walk of life I don’t believe that anyone would support an alleged racist with no evidence to disprove it, yet in football, fans seem to forgive anything.  Perhaps they have become so used to supporting their team and swearing that it was a free kick, foul, penalty etc that they just continue to blindly defend them on more important matters too.  It seems that in football the loyalty is to the badge but that badge is only ever as good as the sum of its parts.  How are those Chelsea fans going to justify booing an England player to their kids who were with them in the crowd?  I asked my Twitter followers and had some replies from Chelsea fans who said they were booing but tried to say it was more because they don’t like Rio.  But you can’t cross wires like this – if after the court case, Terry is found guilty, I sincerely hope that the Chelsea fans don’t continue to stand by him.
I know that football is a competitive sport and players and fans alike do everything they can to put the other side off.  There is a place for lighthearted banter about the stadium, city, club, even individual players but it should be related to their football, not the colour of the skin.

Moving on from how I feel about the double standards fans have towards players and clubs. I think its disgrace how the John Terry situation has been handled in comparison to the Suarez – Evra saga. I have spoke to numerous players that are in the premier league from different cultural backgrounds and everyone seems to think that the FA have helped make the punishment, which we all think John Terry will receive, not effect the ambitions of the National team at this summers European Championships.

While I do rate John Terry for what he has done throughout his career, I don’t think he should be given any special privileges. For all the hassle and baggage which it has brought to the England camp and the next boss, is it worth it?

Not in my eyes. With or without John Terry in the squad, let alone as captain, I do not think it will have a major significance on what England will achieve at the Euros.

Rohan Ricketts