Rio Ferdinand charged over Twitter 'choc ice' race comment
Published Jul 30 2012, 16:32 BST | By Mayer Nissim
Rio Ferdinand has been charged by The FA with improper conduct in relation to comments made on Twitter.Ferdinand responded to a message suggesting Ashley Cole would be a "choc ice" in the trial of John Terry, who was accused of racially abusing Rio's brother Anton. Terry was found not guilty of the offence.
© WENN
© WENN
"I hear you fella! Choc ice is classic hahahahaha!!," Rio said.
"The FA has today charged Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand with improper conduct in relation to comments posted on Twitter," the football authority confirmed on its official website.
"The allegation is that the player acted in a way which was improper and/or bought the game into disrepute by making comments which included a reference to ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race.
"Ferdinand has until 4pm on 2 August 2012 to respond to the charge."
© Rex Features / Beretta/Sims/Rex Features
© PA Images
Ferdinand previously denied that the tweet was racist, adding: "What I said yesterday is not a racist term. Its a type of slang/term used by many for someone who is being fake. So there."
It later emerged that the message was being investigated by the police.
Ferdinand has said that his use of Twitter is "something that lets fans get a bit closer to you, letting them see you do everyday things".
Arsenal player Emmanuel Frimpong was recently charged with improper conduct by The FA in relation to a tweet sent to a Tottenham Hotspur fan where the word "yid" was used.
A choc ice?
What the hell does that have to do with someone's race?
July 31st 2012 at 11:51am
It means black on the outside,white on the inside,get it?
August 1st 2012 at 6:57pm
The FA don't need 100% proof to charge someone, you only have to see the John Terry & Suarez cases. With JT we don't get the full conversation on tape and in the Suarez case we only get one mans word against the other without any other evidence.
Rio's (if you pardon the pun) is in black & white and is (or was) there for all to see.
July 31st 2012 at 11:16am
Freedom of speech really is a thing of the past.
July 31st 2012 at 10:05am(+1 like)
I can understand how that 'choc ice' tweet might have been deemed as offensive/racist, howevert it wasn't Rio Ferdinand who made the remark he merely just replied to it! So why have the FA charged him? John Terry was charged in relation to the alleged remarks he made towards Anton Ferdinand, and is apparently requesting a personal hearing. To be honest I think the FA is trying to pin something on Rio just to make it look 'fair', and make it seem that they're doing all they can to stamp out racism. But to me it looks like they're just victimising Rio.
July 31st 2012 at 9:24am
Rio was very happy to pass on the racist sounding comment to all of his followers. So he's just as guilty.
July 31st 2012 at 10:58am(+1 like)
A. Terry HAS been charged by the FA - so he's not "got away with it". There is a huge difference between an FA charge and a criminal charge. The FA couldn't do anything until AFTER the criminal case had been heard.
B. Rio shouldn't have a twitter account to "allow the fans to get closer to the players" because he doesn't have the intelligence to appreciate the significance or impact of his brainless comments - he's not the only one either. Players who make public comments by any form of social media should be accountable for their comments.
July 31st 2012 at 9:19am