ANTON FERDINAND IS expected to snub the Kick It Out anti-racism campaign once again ahead of Queen’s Park Rangers’ Premier League fixture at Arsenal on Saturday, manager Mark Hughes confirmed on Friday.
Ferdinand was one of several top players who refused to wear the Kick It Out T-shirt before Premier League games last weekend as they feel the equality group haven’t done enough to push for stronger punishment for incidents of racist abuse.
Chelsea’s John Terry was given a four-match ban by the Football Association for racially abusing Ferdinand during a match last year, while Liverpool’s Luis Suarez was hit with an eight-match suspension for the same offence last season.
Anton and his brother Rio Ferdinand, the Manchester United defender, released a statement on Wednesday drawing a line under the row, but Hughes is not certain Ferdinand will wear the T-shirt at the Emirates Stadium this weekend.
“I’ve not discussed it with him this week. Obviously he didn’t last weekend and nothing’s changed to any great extent. Statements have been made,” Hughes said.
“I’m not sure if Anton or any of the other guys who felt that they didn’t want to wear the T-shirt will wear it this weekend.
“He made his feelings known in that regard, and there hasn’t been that much more water under the bridge since he made the decision not to wear it against Everton, so probably he won’t wear it again.
“I don’t know. Maybe with the statement he’s brought out he’ll feel he’ll want to support it.“I think Anton and his brother just made it clear that the PFA and FA and the Kick it Out campaign have done great work in the past and will do great work in the future.
“I think the point was made that we’re at a point in time now when people feel they need to discuss things possibly in greater detail and air their grievances.”
