Luis Suárez banned for eight matches for racial abuse of Patrice Evra

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18. Much as I dislike the unlovely John Terry

Last edited Sat Dec 24, 2011, 03:35 PM - Edit history (1)

I am slightly surprised that the CPS have gone for a prosecution under section 31 (1) (c) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. If they win then all footballers who mouth insults or oaths on a football pitch will need to watch their step since racial aggravation has essentially just been tagged to an existing range of crimes. In most cases all the new offence does is increase the tariff. Thus if Terry had just called Ferdinand a c**t he would still have breached the law under Section 5 Public Order Act 1986 but the potential fine would be a £1000 rather than £2500 he will face because he added the word black and therefore fell foul of the later amendment to that law. If this becomes common practise we could end up with half the EPL in front of the magistrates.

http://www.cps.gov.uk/news/fact_sheets/racially_aggravated_offences/

Of course, this might not be a bad thing if it prompted the FA to take a strong stand against all forms of abuse in football not just those that are racially motivated. Sadly I suspect that would just be part of my idle dream of returning to an age of more Corinthian sporting values.