Warnock: Abusive fans should be jailed
Published 12:04 04/11/11 By Mike Walters
Neil Warnock has blasted his race-row star Anton Ferdinand and chuntered: “He’s a twit for using Twitter.”
And QPR’s outspoken manager said Chelsea fans who unleashed a stream of sick chants about Ferdinand should all be thrown in prison for two years.
Warnock believes Ferdinand has left himself open to insults from computer warriors over allegations that he was racially abused by England captain John Terry during last month’s west London derby at Loftus Road.
Apart from Chelsea’s travelling fans showing their support for Blues skipper Terry in the Champions League tie at Genk in midweek, Ferdinand has received racist hate-mail on his microblogging site.
And Warnock said: “Anton has been a rock in defence, which has given us a chance, but I think he’s a twit for using Twitter.
“I don’t agree with it, but I suppose if you’re into that sort of thing you have to take the rough with the smooth.
“I’ve already told him to come off Twitter. I’m not a big fan of people talking to big groups of supporters when there’s a problem at any club. There’s only going to be one winner in that situation.
“You should keep your head down and let things take their course.”
Warnock was more supportive of his central defender when addressing the fans who taunted Ferdinand in Belgium, scoffing: “I think they should be put in prison for about two years each, but that’s just me flying a kite, isn’t it?
“It’s all right saying, 'We’re going to look into it', but you can’t look into that.
“When you see the hatred in some of these guys’ faces, it’s frightening. You’re probably talking about guys who wear suits to work all week.
“It’s all very well to say you’re getting rid of the excess when you go to a football match, but some of it goes way over the top.”
Chelsea have promised to root out the ringleaders behind Tuesday’s tasteless refrains of “Anton Ferdinand, you know what you are.”
