West Ham’s Anton Ferdinand praises TST organizers for its ‘no-nonsense action’ after racism row
Anton Ferdinand has spoken out about an incident of racial abuse that occurred during a 7v7 match involving West Ham United in the US, and praised the efforts of tournament organisers, TST, in the aftermath.
Speaking to reporters following the Hammers’ 4-3 win over Culture By Mo Ali FC in Carry, North Carolina, on Friday, the former Premier League defender, who was the subject of racial abuse during his playing days, said: “I must go on record and say the topic of conversation that was exposed yesterday is bigger than football.”
And the way TST handled it, so fast — the no-nonsense action. Many people around the world, organizations around the world can take them.
“The support they have given to us as a team and as a squad, not just for us but also for the staff here with us, is second to none. We must remember that this is not just a football issue. It’s a social problem that needs to be addressed and if more people dressed like TST did, the world would be a better place.”
On Thursday, TST officials said a Dallas United player made racial slurs against a West Ham player. Tournament organizers initially thought the insult was directed at Ferdinand, but later clarified that the player was Frank Nouble.
Anton Ferdinand said an incident of racial abuse during a match Thursday was ‘bigger than football’
Players on West Ham’s 7v7 side at The Soccer Tournament (TST) knelt on Friday
On Thursday, a Dallas United player allegedly made racist comments about West Ham’s Franke Nouble
Dallas withdrew from the tournament on Friday, insisting the decision was their own, despite reports elsewhere that they had been disqualified.
In the wake of the shocking incident, tournament organizers said: ‘After investigating the final moments of the match between West Ham United and Dallas United, we have concluded that Dallas United has breached TST’s code of conduct.
“We have been in talks with the management of both clubs and we all agree that the best way forward is for Dallas United to withdraw from the competition.”
Nouble became heated with the accused Dallas United player and after the altercation, he and teammates, including Ferdinand, held discussions on the team’s bench with officials before deciding to leave the field.
When asked if West Ham players are considering not playing after the incident, Ferdinand replied: “That was certainly a possibility.”
“As I said before, the topic of conversation was bigger than football. It’s not just people of ethnicity who face this problem. Every race, color creed has to deal with the issue in the same way as ethnic minorities.
Taking a stand is hard because when I was on the other side as a player and playing competitively for a living, if someone said to me ‘walk off the field’ the competitor in me would be fighting in my mind. But I’m not anymore. And I have a duty, in what I believe in myself, to make sure that when I’m in these situations, I use my voice in the best possible way.
And not just me, but as a team as a whole. The whole club as a whole has done that and that’s why I stand proud, with my chest out and with this badge on me.’
West Ham players left the field after the incident. Tournament organizers have expelled Dallas Utd
When asked if any Dallas United players have come into contact with their West Ham counterparts, Ferdinand said after Thursday’s incident: “I think they wanted to have a conversation.
“But I think it was only right that those in power, and that was TST, deal with it and that it be handled appropriately. To counter something, there must be deterrence.
And TST has sent a strong signal that any form of discrimination, racism and other forms of discrimination will not be tolerated at a tournament like this. Because of the repercussions and what happened to Dallas, I hope people understand and realize the repercussions when they say things like that. I hope it arrives.’
In that regard, the former central defender of West Ham, Sunderland, QPR and Reading said that ‘we are so far away’ from eradicating racism completely in a sport described by many as the ‘beautiful game’.
“But we will not stop fighting,” the 38-year-old added. Most importantly, the message is that this is not just the struggle of an ethnic minority. It’s everyone’s battle. You have to speak and fight the same way I talk about it. The same way my teammates talk about it. That’s one thing we had yesterday, it wasn’t just black players talking about it.
Anton Ferdinand, 38, once accused Chelsea captain John Terry of alleged racist abuse in 2011
“It was players who were white, like Matt Jarvis, or Jimmy Walker, who came forward and spoke for me. For Carlton Cole. That’s really important. When someone of white descent hears someone of my descent talk about it, it’s almost like a broken record, you’ve heard it before. But when you hear it from someone who looks like you, you notice it. Everyone needs to get together and fight it.
“It’s difficult, but football can be the catalyst for change in society.”
Famous West Ham manager Thomas Skinner also spoke about the abuse and described his pride in his players for leaving the field.
“I’m so proud of Anton for taking a stand and leading the team off the field,” he said. “Racism has no place in football and the disqualification of Dallas United was the right decision.”