Barton rages at FA and says that Terry has got off lightly

JOEY Barton has criticised the Football Association after John Terry was banned for four games for racially abusing QPR’s Anton Ferdinand – eight fewer than the former QPR midfielder received for violent conduct.

Chelsea skipper Terry was also fined £220,000 by an FA independent regulatory commission for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand, but is considering an appeal.

Barton, on loan at Marseille, said on Twitter: “Well I think that proves a lot. What an absolute farce. Twelve games for violent conduct and only four for that. FA should be embarrassed. #shambles.

“Had a vivid dream last night involving Terry, a roaring crowd and a firing squad. Ah, not the turnout I expected...

“I was expecting at least a public execution after a year. Twelve games!!! By the FA’s perverse reckoning, I’d of got less of a 
ban for racially abusing the Man City players than tickling them as I did.

“In what circumstance can that be right?”

MP Damian Collins, a member of the culture, media and sport committee that produced a 
report on racism in football earlier this month, said: “It would be good if there was some sort of recognition on John Terry’s part that what he did was wrong. This is something football should learn from.”

Liverpool’s Luis Suarez was given an eight-match suspension for racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra, and Collins said the FA should lay down what sanctions should be expected.

He added: “The FA have to establish some sort of consistency. If the longer ban is due to more incidents within the match then that’s their right. I certainly think what John Terry got was the minimum. If there is a scale of these offences, the FA should give some sort of penalties people can expect.”

Tottenham’s former Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas insists Terry will be sorely missed by England following his international retirement. “It’s a massive, massive loss for England,” said Villas-Boas. “John Terry is a player with unbelievable talent and helped this country so much, and the same for Chelsea.

“In the end they are his decisions. It’s difficult for a player to take a position like this, but on the perspective of England and qualification it leaves (England manager) Roy Hodgson in a difficult position, bearing in mind the centre-backs at his disposal.”

Former England manager Graham Taylor said he hoped a line could now be drawn underneath the case. He said: “Having sat on these panels, I know those people will have come to their conclusion in an honest and proper manner. They will have had legal advice.

“Whether John and Chelsea accept it is up to them, but I think it might be in everyone’s interest to put it to bed.”

Kick it Out’s Lord Herman Ouseley told BBC Radio 5 Live: “This is not about recriminations. It’s about how football moves forward from here after it has spent 11 months going through the wringer.

“People are trying to make the game a better place to be. Seven million people play on a regular basis and we want them to play in an atmosphere of no abuse.”