John Terry: Racial Abuse Will Prompt England Walk Off
stonejah said
12:26 02/11 2009
With England set to face Spain tonight, memories of what happened the last time the two teams met in Madrid in 2004 have been cast up.
During La Roja's 1-0 win over the Three Lions in November 2004, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Jermain Defoe and Ashley Cole were subjected to racist jeers from certain sections of the crowd.
When Rio Ferdinand was recently asked whether the players had discussed how they might react should they receive similar treatment tonight, he replied, "It is extraordinary that we're discussing racism in this day and age.
"It is not something we have discussed over lunch or at training. All we are talking about as a squad is the result we are looking for in Spain."
However, England captain John Terry has admitted that, while they hope it does not happen, the players would follow the referee's lead if he feels that the game needed to be abandoned.
"If it gets as bad as last time, the referee would have to step in and make a decision," Terry is quoted as saying in The Telegraph.
"If he decides to lead both teams off the field, we'll have to support that. It's not nice, but I'm fully behind my team and my players. If any one of the referee or players decide that, we'll follow suit."
During La Roja's 1-0 win over the Three Lions in November 2004, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Jermain Defoe and Ashley Cole were subjected to racist jeers from certain sections of the crowd.
When Rio Ferdinand was recently asked whether the players had discussed how they might react should they receive similar treatment tonight, he replied, "It is extraordinary that we're discussing racism in this day and age.
"It is not something we have discussed over lunch or at training. All we are talking about as a squad is the result we are looking for in Spain."
However, England captain John Terry has admitted that, while they hope it does not happen, the players would follow the referee's lead if he feels that the game needed to be abandoned.
"If it gets as bad as last time, the referee would have to step in and make a decision," Terry is quoted as saying in The Telegraph.
"If he decides to lead both teams off the field, we'll have to support that. It's not nice, but I'm fully behind my team and my players. If any one of the referee or players decide that, we'll follow suit."