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When will football chiefs call time on racism?

SPECULATION: Terry (right) faces off with Ferdinand at Loftus Road

PREMIER LEAGUE footballers have called for more to be done to eradicate racism from the game.

Their plea follows on from allegations that Chelsea’s John Terry racially abused QPR’s Anton Ferdinand last Sunday.

Speculation on the internet arose minutes after QPR’s 1-0 win at Loftus Road. Terry appeared to be mouthing obscenities at the Rangers player which he has vehemently denied. Terry has subsequently countered that anything he said was taken out of context.

Now Emile Heskey and Jason Roberts have called for an end to racism within the game as a whole.

Roberts of Blackburn Rovers told BBC Sport: “In my 14-year career, I've had it numerous times. More times than I can count.


CALL FOR EDUCATION: Heskey

“My uncle, Cyrille Regis, who played in the 70s and 80s, put up with disgusting abuse.

“I think in this day and age we need to change that. It's not acceptable."

Aston Villa forward and ex-England international Heskey added: “People don't stand for it. It's there and people see it but we want to get rid of it - that's why we have campaigns like Kick It Out and sit down with the children and we educate them."

The allegations made against Terry, which the police are investigating, come a week after Manchester United’s Patrice Evra claimed he was racially taunted by Liverpool forward Luis Suarez. At the time of going to press it was unclear if Ferdinand would pursue the matter further.

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