Cole targeted on Twitter as John Terry racism row flares up again

The John Terry racism row was reignited when his teammate and defence witness Ashley Cole was attacked on Twitter – with Rio Ferdinand laughingly reacting.

Terry was cleared of a racially aggravated public order offence at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday. It was alleged that he had maligned Rio’s brother Anton – a Queens Park Rangers defender – during a match on October 23 last year.

Cole, 31, had told the trial that Terry, his Stamford Bridge captain and friend, was not racist.

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Cole, who also told the court he was a longstanding friend of the Ferdinand brothers, was accused by one person who sent a tweet to Rio Ferdinand of being a “choc ice”. The term is commonly understood to mean “black on the outside, white on the inside”.

The person wrote: “Looks like Ashley Cole’s going to be their choc ice. Then again he’s always been a sell out. Shame on him.”

Cole moved to calm the situation down and issued a statement through his lawyers.

It said: “Ashley Cole has been made aware of the discussion following comments appearing on Twitter and wishes to make it clear that he and Rio Ferdinand are good friends and Ashley has no intention of making any sort of complaint.

“Ashley appreciates that Tweeting is so quick it often results in off-hand and stray comments.”