Ferdinands to support campaign

19 October 2012 18:18

Rio and Anton Ferdinand are expected to wear 'Kick It Out' t-shirts ahead of matches this weekend, despite some players' misgivings over the anti-racism organisation's response to the John Terry case.

Kick It Out, part-funded by the FA, said they had been hamstrung by being forced to wait until the end of the disciplinary process before making their feelings public. Reading striker and BBC pundit Jason Roberts has become so frustrated that he will not wear one of the shirts promoting their week of action - a stance that earned a rebuke from Sir Alex Ferguson.

Anton Ferdinand, the QPR defender who was on the receiving end of Terry's racial abuse, is expected to wear the shirt, according to his manager, as is his brother Rio.

QPR manager Mark Hughes said: "That is my understanding, I have not been told anything different. I fully expect everyone to wear the t-shirt."

Hughes added that he was not expecting a personal apology to his player.

"I think John Terry feels that he hasn't done anything wrong and that has been his stance," he said.

"So for him to apologise would perhaps be an admission of guilt so I wouldn't have thought he would be prepared to do that."

Rio Ferdinand also appears set to wear a Kick It Out shirt after Manchester United boss Ferguson said all players should do so.

Ferguson said: "I have to disagree with Jason Roberts. I think he is making the wrong point."

He added: "I don't know if he is trying to put himself on a different pedestal from everyone. But he really should be supporting all the rest of the players who are doing it."

Source: PA