LONDON - Football will pay a heavy price in the fallout from the John Terry trial after the Chelsea defender was found not guilty of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand on Friday.PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor admitted ‘the searchlight’ is on football after the court case brutally exposed the vicious verbal exchanges which take place on the pitch.Taylor called for black players to come forward if they feel a complaint of racism needs to be made in the future, adding: ‘I hope black players do not feel restrained in light of the verdict. Everyone must be vigilant. The players are role models whether they like it or not and they must behave accordingly.’The FA, who have been monitoring the criminal trial, will examine their own case this week with a view to charging the pair with misconduct after their infamous exchange.Terry was stripped of the England captaincy after he was charged with calling Ferdinand a ‘f****** black c***’ in the 83rd minute of Chelsea’s defeat at Loftus Road last October.Taylor added: ‘It has been an unedifying week for football and there is no doubt that the searchlight is on our national sport. We must reinforce the Respect campaign because the image of the game has been tarnished this week.’Former Manchester United and Tottenham striker Garth Crooks claimed Terry will now be under examination from the Football Association, despite his criminal acquittal.Crooks said: ‘He’s still under investigation by the FA based on what he’s admitted — saying those words. I’m afraid for John Terry this is only half-time. This is not over.’
