So, the game itself wasn’t much to write home about although the pre-match entertainment provided by Anton Ferdinand seems to have captured the required amount of attention.
Despite being dragged through the courts in order to be found not guilty of the allegations made against him, John Terry still offered his hand to Ferdinand – as is customary before a game – and found himself predictably blanked. Are we surprised? And more to the point, are we remotely bothered? Of course the answer to those two questions is no.
The fact is, Ferdinand had his day in court, so to speak. Whatever was or wasn’t said on the pitch last October has been picked to bits, and the upshot is John Terry was found not guilty. No-one’s being asked to like it, or even accept it but isn’t it about bloody time everyone moved on from it? I mean, we’re nearly a year down the line, he’s been found not guilty yet still faces an FA charge which will no doubt result in a lengthy ban anyway, do we really need the floorshow ahead of our games?
Personally, I couldn’t care less whether Anton Ferdinand shakes hands with our players or not, if he feels he needs the headlines that much it’s up to him. What did annoy me about it yesterday though was, he was so intent on not shaking JT’s hand, he had absolutely no consideration for anyone else who wanted to.
Of course I’m referring to the mascot he seemed to be pushing in the back to get him past Terry as well. The poor boy clearly went to shake John Terry’s hand – and why wouldn’t he? That sort of thing is a chance of a lifetime for loads of young football fans – and Anton Ferdinand denied him it. It’s been argued today there would have been no intent on Ferdinand’s part when he did that yesterday, he was simply trying to get past John Terry as quickly as he could. The point is though, his own personal feelings made him oblivious to those of an innocent young lad, probably desperate to get back and brag to his mates he’d shook the hands of all the Champions of Europe.
Anton Ferdinand knew before he stepped on that pitch yesterday he wouldn’t be accepting the outstretched hands of John Terry and Ashley Cole and if he wasn’t so wrapped up in demonstrating his ability to hold a grudge to the world, that little lad would have had full bragging rights today.
Blue is the colour
