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The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

Rio Ferdinand's tweet flirts with Contempt of Court laws

Footballer tweets about "Liar Liar" as the court case between his brother Anton and John Terry begins.

By New Statesman Published 09 July 2012 13:29

Rio Ferdinand, in July 2011. Photo: Getty Images

This morning Chelsea captain John Terry went on trial over accusations that he verbally abused QPR defender Anton Ferdinand last October.

Terry denies the charges, and the trial is expected to last for five days.

At 12.23pm today, Rio Ferdinand - Anton's brother - sent out this cryptic tweet:

Whatever could he be referring to? Whatever it was, 2,450 people liked it enough to retweet it.

The Guardian's Dan Sabbagh, who picked up on the tweet, had this to say:

[With] 3m followers @rioferdy5 ought to be careful. Why should he provide a commentary on trials press can't?

He later added:

Guardian lawyers saying Rio tweet probably not contempt as hearing before mags court BUT this goes to heart of integrity of trials

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6 comments

Thu, 2012-07-19 13:20 — Goji (not verified)

Nice article..... interesting.
Goji Goji fructe goji

Wed, 2012-07-18 14:15 — Goji (not verified)

Nice article..... interesting.
Goji Goji fructe goji

Tue, 2012-07-10 15:43 — Dave Gibbs (not verified)

Further, what about todays tweet 'Cock and Bull Story'!!

He knows he wont get charged and will continue to cross the line. It is unacceptable. I wonder whether most media outlets would be banging the 'bring Rio before the courts' drum had Terry been a popular figure...

Tue, 2012-07-10 11:50 — Sam2012 (not verified)

Des Demona - It's because newspapers and magazines aren't allowed to do it, so if they try and make out that if someone else who isn't a part of the industry supposedly does something that is contempt of court then they should be treated the same as newspapers etc.

It's a bit dangerous for newspapers to go down this route as the law could get changed and make it very easy for ordinary people or low level bloggers to get themselves in trouble. On the plus side the only people who will publish anything on the net will be professionals who know exactly what they're doing ie newspapers.

Mon, 2012-07-09 15:58 — A Realist (not verified)

Racism should never be condoned. However, i hope that Rio Ferdinand isn't using the publicity gained from this case to promote his media career. I've seen him on one doomed to never be repeated game show already. Racism is too important an issue to be trivilised by Ferdinand, in his obvious attempt to create a media personality for himself. He's already voiced his annoyance because he wasn't picked for england as a defender and Terry was, despite terry being in the champions league winning team. I fear his agent is giving him the wrong advice; to turn himself in to a media personality, to earn the bucks in future he won't be geting from football.

Mon, 2012-07-09 15:33 — Des Demona (not verified)

Seems like most things nowadays contempt of court legislation is geared towards the most idiotic people in society. And like most media nowadays the NS jumps on the most idiotic stories.
Straw poll?
Rio Ferdinand's tweets are important to report in the NS? -YES/ NO