The Football Association (FA) found Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand guilty of improper conduct for racist comments he made on Twitter earlier Friday, the BBC reported.
Ferdinand was fined £45,000 by the FA for the comments he made about Chelsea’s Ashley Cole. Ferdinand called Cole “choc-ice” following the trial of John Terry, who was acquitted of making racist comments towards Ferdinand’s brother, Anton. Cole had testified on Terry’s behalf.
The term, which means “black on the outside but white on the inside,” is derogatory according to former NBA player and psychologist John Amaechi, who explained the harm of using the word on the BBC website.
“It’s a dangerous term because it allows black boys especially but black people in general, to believe that there is a way of being black that is somehow distinct from being white,” Amaechi wrote.
“The commission found that the breach included a reference to ethnic origin, colour or race,” an FA statement read.
They also warned Ferdinand about his future conduct. Manchester United has decided not to appeal the decision.
The recent surge of racist and inappropriate tweets and Facebook posts by professional soccer players has prompted the English Premier League to release an official set of social media guidelines in time for the new season.
Photo via Twitter
