Most disliked Premier football player?Terrygate – Guilty before trial?

Several issues are under the spotlight in Terrygate and whilst I’m no fan of the guy the FA is doing him no favours by stripping him of the captaincy before he has even been tried.

Britain is built on the notion of fairness and our judicial system is renowned as being one of the best in the world so to strip Terry of the captaincy before he has even had a chance to reply to his accuser is not cricket Sir.

Of the issues, the first thing that springs to mind  is what a waste of money. I mean come on. Does this really need to go to court?

I’m not saying by any stretch of the imagination that I’m in the Blatter camp of shaking hands makes everything all right but I am a pragmatist and it seems ridiculous that we are going to court with this.

Whether or not Terry racially abused Anton Ferdinand is a side issue. An important side issue of course but this case should not be wasting taxpayers money.

I’m not condoning Terry. My grandsons are of mixed Indian race and even at six years old I can see the beginnings of playground abuse coming their way. I’m saying that it should not be going to court for us taxpayers to foot the bill.

This should be an out of court settlement.

The details of the charge:

“On 23rd October 2011 at Loftus Road Stadium, London W12 you used threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress which was racially aggravated in accordance with section 28 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Contrary to section 31 (1) (c) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.”

The maximum penalty for successful prosecution is £2,500. I mean what land are we living in here?

If it was any Joe off the street then I would agree. Let’s get them in the dock and throw rotten eggs at them. Let’s get the ducking stool out. But it isn’t. How much does Terry earn a week? If he’s found guilty the penalty will be a joke.

The second issue is why didn’t Terry simply resign the captaincy and save everyone the trouble. Could it be that the guy is actually such a twat that the dailies make him out to be?

Anyone with an ounce of common decency about them would see the wood for the trees and realise that they would be better served by ducking the limelight here. It’s not as if he doesn’t know what is coming his way is it? Max Clifford must be pissing himself laughing at the ineptitude of it all.

And lastly why is Terry captain anyway? What leader example does he set?

Steven Gerrard should be captain. I may be biased but I like to think I can spot a good bloke when I see one.