gumps

Got my copy through the post today. Thanks Steve. Quick rummage through and it looks top quality, and personally signed too. Result!

Uh Oh, looks like brushes and carpets at the ready! Loop hole: Terry racism charge could be dismissed because it breaches FA rules "John Terry's racism charge could be thrown out of the FA "court" next week - because of the Wembley rulebook. Chelsea skipper Terry faces a likely four-match ban - and significant threat to his future England career - if he is found to have racially abused QPR defender Anton Ferdinand last October when the delayed case starts on Monday. While Terry was cleared of racial abuse at Westminster Magistrates Court in July, he conceded in evidence that he had used the words "f****** black c***" in response to Ferdinand, although insisting he was angrily dismissing the suggestion that he had used such words as an insult. And it is that court case which looks likely to be used by Terry's legal team in a bid to have the entire case thrown out before any evidence is heard by the three-man Regulatory Commission. Paragraph 6.8 of the FA "Rules and Regulations", specifically cites of cases "where the subject matter of a complaint or matter before the Regulatory Commission has been the subject of previous civil or criminal proceedings". It adds that in such circumstances: "The result of such proceedings and the facts and matters upon which such result is based shall be presumed to be correct and the facts presumed to be true unless it is shown, by clear and convincing evidence, that this is not the case." Delivering his verdict in July, Senior District Judge Howard Riddle stated: "It is therefore possible that what he (Terry) said was not intended as an insult, but rather as a challenge to what he believed had been said to him. "In those circumstances, there being a doubt, the only verdict the court can record is one of not guilty." Terry's legal team, headed by George Carter-Stephenson QC, have been poring over the fine print of the FA regulations since the decision to formally charge the Chelsea captain was made on July 27, a fortnight after his acquittal. While Terry has remained vehement in his protestations of innocence, a position bolstered by the outcome of the Court case, it seems that even before the evidence is presented, the Chelsea skipper and his representatives will urge the Commission to dismiss the case on the grounds of a direct breach of the FA's own regulations. The FA counter-argument is likely to be that there is a strict liability rule in place for allegations of racially-aggravated misconduct and that Terry's prior statements, both in the court and his interviews with Wembley investigators, represent an admission of guilt. Ferdinand - and QPR captain Ji-Sung Park - both snubbed Terry before Saturday's goalless draw between the two clubs on Saturday, with the Rangers man also refusing to shake the hand of Ashley Cole, a defence witness in Court. Disciplinary beaks believe they can still charge Terry and that the rules do not stop them from moving forward on that basis. But it seems the case could be dismissed before it even begins, an outcome which would cause anger and indignation from Ferdinand, his family and friends, as well as campaign groups and QPR, while also igniting dormant passions on Merseyside still simmering over Luiz Suarez' contentious ban last season." Lets hope that even the FA realise that they can't just conveniently make this go away on a technicality

I seen this and wanted to make a comment to the contrary. It seems the BBC is selective in what articles they allow comments to be made on, how convenient, still don't want to upset MUFC. It's a bullshit excuse from Man Utd & MUST. It's as childish as "it wasn't me".

While I agree with you about the "apology bandwagon" a bit, we all know how things works now particularly in the media. They react to opportunities. Pre HIP report, it would have been career suicide for any journalist to break ranks and confront KM like Alex Thompson. Before HIP, KM had the power high ground, now thats been taken from under him and he's being mauled by the pack.

Well, I don't work in the police and can only go by what I see day to day, but even in this so-called equality age I would find it strange for 2 female officers to be paired up/dispatched. Two blokes or one of each yes, but two girls? No. Regarding the cop-killer bit, it's still a great rarity even with the criminals being tooled-up that ,to me at least, to take that step is still a bit of a taboo for a crim to make. The outrage it causes is taken into account by courts and parole boards.

Really hits home when you put it like that. Not really the relegation bit (still think we're not that bad) but the fact that it was taken for granted that we would be in CL each year.

Hahaha! Love a good doorstep moment! Did you hear him say ..."are you still employed Alex?" What a cunt!

Sick,evil bastard that. Obviously pre-meditated and didn't care who turned up. The fact that it was 2 females is just more tragic. Probably wanted to up his credibility inside. He's looking at a long stretch in jail. We all know life does not mean life and is dictated by the tariff set by the judge, but cop-killers are still seen as one of the worst and he will serve well past his tariff.

Oh it has! Driving habits should have it's own rant thread there's been so many! Anyway, I'm sure this one has been done before, but why oh why do I always get stuck behind some short-sighted, uncoordinated mong in the cash machine queue? They seem to be conducting (not very well) their whole weeks worth of banking business!

Wondered why I hadn't seen him on TV and whatnot. No idea he had been sick.

Fucking frustrating to see Sunderland's goal. Only attacking player in the box was Fletcher, and the ball goes straight to his feet, past the first defender and a despairing dive from Reina. If that had've been us then the cross would either have hit the first defender or easily cleared . We are just screaming out for a finisher. Not a great/world class player, just a finisher. Swap Borini for Fletcher and how different our results would be.

It's been going downhill for years now. Haven't watched it for ages. Their (maybe my paranoia?) bias against LFC and the current line-up of pundits childish screaming off camera when anything happens on their game. It was genuinely groundbreaking when first started, but others have caught up now.

Had to wait 4 hours for activation! Anyway done now. 2676 & 333

Good call on the micromanagement. In my organisation, a culture has developed from managers that everything we do has to be checked and recorded on a form as having been done. There is a certain amount of work that we all have to do every day and it is blatantly obvious if it is not done. But no, to justify their own importance, management have sent down from on high checklists that have to be filled in. So, you spend more and more time filling in forms that work has been done and less and less work gets done! Is there not some sort of theory about this? Or is it the Ant and Lion theory?

Hmmmm, I dunno. Didn't Atkinson do our 2-0 away win at Arsenal last season? Having said that, he's probably gave us all his help for the next 3 years in that game.

More evidence why they should just scrap this posturing charade altogether. Any positive/sporting reasons behind them in the first place has been hi-jacked by any player with a public grudge/feud against other players. We all know what the "story" is going to be leading up to the match next week.

Massive Sky+ fail! My dad went to bed @ 2 sets all recorded the final set on his Sky+. Avoided all sports and news coverage yesterday morning and sat down to watch final set. Murray leading 5-2 and about to toss the ball to serve for the match when he gets the dreaded "End of programme" message! Hahahaha! Apparently Sly TV got loads of complaints. FFS could some monkey at HQ not have realised that this game was going to 5 sets and re-adjusted the EPG!

Cheers Sir Roger.

Was it a straight red? How many games will he miss (can't be a bad thing)? Wonder if FA will mount a mission to get any ban reduced like Shrek's.

This seasons Phil Jones.

Made up for Murray. Wanted to post during the match but didn't want to jinx it. First set was crucial and when he went 2-0 up thought that was it surely, but Djokovic is a supreme competitor and was never going to go down in straight sets. Yeah, seen the 4th going to Novak but typical Murray to stretch it out that long. I've said before, watching him is bad for the nerves! Always though that US or Australian was more likely to be his first. If anything thing now, the expectation for Wimbledon has gone up a notch or two now he has a Slam under his belt? Anyway well done again. Oh, and folks is right, Sports "Personality" of the year will be a nightmare this year!

Never makes easy watching does he? I have a sneaky feeling Ferrer might upset Djokovic.

Yep, down to a tee. The bride is from down there so obviously calling all the shots. The wife had an outfit all picked early only to find that the colour "clashed" with whatever the bridesmaids are wearing! Fuck off with all this wedding politics shite! Also, there is a big split in the wifes family what with the groom's mum and dad having divorced acrimoniously and now remarried. So there will probably be glaring and hard stares across the room!

The missus' nephew is getting married between christmas and new year, 200 miles away in Wexford! Needless to say she wants to stay in the fuck off hotel that the reception is being at. Oh, and the actual church is another 40 odd miles from the hotel. The couple are in the insurance business and are well loaded and don't really give a fuck to the expense and inconvenience to anyone else obviously. Not looking forward to it at all, it's really putting a downer on the christmas arrangements. Secretly hoping the whole thing gets called off!

I really don't see what case Fulham have here. Brendans comments are pretty standard and respectful compared to some. He's admitted they made an enquiry. I'm assuming it was club to club like it should be and not through the player or agents, which is the usual tapping up way of doing things. Yes, the website thing was a jumping the gun fuck up, but Fulhams only beef is that Dempsey was maybe happy to stay before this news was posted and then maybe made him unsettled. I don't know? Slap on the wrist warning about being careful in future I reckon, if anything. Oh sorry I forgot, we are LFC! £10m fine and 8 game ban for our only striker.