A related point is the way that Mr Terry’s facial expression changed at the
moment he uttered the words “black ****”. He tells me, and I accept, that
he has received countless taunts, from players and spectators, about an
alleged relationship with a team-mate’s wife. By the time of this match the
taunts had occurred over an 18 month period. He had learned to live with
them. They did not anger him. Later I heard evidence from Mr Buck and
Mr Wilkins about his unusual qualities of self-control and leadership. I
8 also heard about his disciplinary record. He has been sent off four times in
600 matches, and never for abuse. There can be little doubt from this, and
from other evidence that I need not repeat here, that Mr Terry has, over
the years, been subjected to the most unpleasant personal abuse and has
had to learn to keep calm and continue to play football. On the account
given by Anton Ferdinand, there is no obvious reason why John Terry
should suddenly become annoyed by the repetition of this taunt. He had
heard it before many times. He did not react angrily the first time Anton
Ferdinand said it, nor did he immediately react angrily when the obscene
gesture was made.
