United star Ferdinand denies aiming racist attack at Cole after 'choc ice' tweet

Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand has denied using Twitter to aim a racist taunt at Ashley Cole.

The defender responded to a tweet in which Chelsea star Cole was described as a ‘choc ice’ because of his role in the trial last week in which his club captain, John Terry, had been accused of racially abusing Ferdinand’s brother, QPR defender Anton.

But on Sunday Ferdinand tweeted: 'What I said yesterday is not a racist term. Its a type of slang/term used by many for someone who is being fake. So there.'

Cole appeared as a witness for Terry’s defence and testified that his team-mate had not used racial language in his clash with Ferdinand as an insult, but was only repeating back the words after Ferdinand mistakenly believed he had used them.
The term ‘choc ice’ can be used as a racially insensitive term to describe black people who are seen to have betrayed their ethnicity.

Terry was cleared of racially aggravated abuse, a charge he had consistently denied.

The latest row began when a Twitter user sent Rio Ferdinand a public message which read: ‘Looks like Ashley Cole’s going to be their choc ice. Then again he’s always been a sellout. Shame on him.’ Ferdinand appeared to endorse the insult when he replied: ‘I hear you fella! Choc ice is classic hahahahahahha!!’
However, Ferdinand then appeared to attempt to defuse the apparent insult by tweeting about ice cream. He wrote: ‘I’m more a cherry brandy man! Used to go for the twisters too back in the day! Classics.’

But his next tweet again appeared to make reference to his brother’s court case by adding: ‘Its Sarcasm!’ Terry had claimed at Westminster Magistrates’ Court that he was being sarcastic rather than racist in his clash with Ferdinand.

Some fans rounded on Rio Ferdinand and accused him of using racially insulting language. One Twitter user reported his comments to the Metropolitan Police Twitter account. The user wrote: ‘Can I make a complaint about this tweet which I find offensive from Rio Ferdinand. Unbelievable from him.’

Ferdinand initially appeared bullish about the response, writing: ‘And if I want to laugh at something someone tweets....I will! Hahahahaha! Now stop getting ya knickers in a twist!’ The tweets were later deleted.
Cole apparently moved to calm the row when his lawyers said in a statement: ‘Ashley 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.’

Terry was prosecuted over remarks he was alleged to have made during his clash with Anton Ferdinand in a Premier League match last October.

The ex-England captain was accused in court of hurling a volley of racial abuse at Ferdinand after being taunted over his alleged affair with the girlfriend of his former Chelsea team-mate, Wayne Bridge.

Terry admitted calling Ferdinand a ‘f****** black c***’ as they traded insults on the pitch. But the  31-year-old claimed he was simply repeating the words after being falsely accused of saying them.