• Premier League

PFA chairman blasts Ferdinand brothers as 's***houses'

Clarke Carlisle believes Rio and Anton Ferdinand should have committed time and effort to help the Kick It Out cause © PA Photos

Enlarge

The chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association has branded Rio and Anton Ferdinand "s***houses" for boycotting an anti-racism T-shirt demonstration.

The brothers chose to ignore the campaign launched by Kick It Out last October.

They were unhappy the punishments given to Chelsea's John Terry, who was banned for four games, and Liverpool's Luis Suarez, suspended for eight matches, were too lenient after they were found guilty of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand and Patrice Evra respectively.

Week in Pictures

Serena Williams had problems with the wind © AP

• The latest collection of our favourite pictures of the week includes a cold shower, tennis trick shots and a poke in the eye.
  
• Click here for more.

But Clarke Carlisle said their actions damaged a group that is making attempts to end discrimination in football and accused them of "throwing a grenade" at the issue but refusing to commit their own time and efforts to help the cause.

Carlisle wrote in his forthcoming autobiography, 'You Don't Know Me, But... A Footballer's Life', which is being serialised in the Daily Mail: "It p****s me off that, rather than speaking out and addressing the topic, a few decide to do something as trivial as not wear a t-shirt, then melt back into the crowd.

"Rio and Anton Ferdinand were among a group of high-profile abstainers, along with Joleon Lescott, who has not worn one since Newcastle's Turkish midfielder Emre was cleared of racially abusing his Everton team-mate Joseph Yobo, and Jason Roberts.

"Jason apart, the Premier League 'big' players happily throw in a grenade, but do nothing when it explodes, nothing other than appear to hide behind their advisers. That's because they are s***houses. They have made their 'statement' for all to see, but how many are prepared to stand in front of the cameras and be counted?"

Carlisle, who retired in the summer after playing for Blackpool, QPR, Leeds, Watford, Luton, Burnley, Preston, Northampton and York, was also annoyed that top black players refused to appear in a documentary he made, called 'Is Football Racist?.'

And Carlisle said they were happier to criticise him for raising the issue rather than assist in the Kick It Out initiative, for which he is an ambassador.

"The impression conveyed is that I have failed to get people to unite and support the cause," Carlisle said. "Not only that, I feel under attack from a group of players questioning my position and representation of them on the issue.

"This has really hurt me. Where the hell have they been for the past eight years, when I have seen the same faces at the anti-racism initiatives?

"I could count on my fingers the guys who have been to the KIO [Kick It Out] and Show Racism the Red Card workshops and meetings. It seems like they can't be arsed to join in, because it's inconvenient to attend on a day off or to contribute something after training. They will readily gun me down for giving my opinion on the subject, though."

Download ESPN's new UK sport app, a fresh and powerful new way to follow your favourite UK sports news, scores and video.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd