BT Sport are seemingly trying to reassemble England's Golden Generation. This week they announced Frank Lampard would be linking up with the broadcaster for the season ahead, to join a host of his former teammates who helped heap consistent disappointment on England in such fundamentally hilarious fashion. These include Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Owen, Paul Scholes, and Owen Hargreaves.
And according to a report in today's Times, the broadcaster did not initially wish to stop there. BT have the Champions League rights once again this year, and wished to add England's brave John Terry.
Yep, Matt Hughes reports that BT explored the option of bringing the new Aston Villa defender on board for European games, only to decide against it so as to avoid any tension with Rio Ferdinand.
The two don't get on, ever since Terry called Anton Ferdinand a "fucking black cunt" after a game involving Chelsea and QPR. Terry went on trial, and escaped punishment as he claimed the context meant it did not constitute racial abuse: Terry claimed that he said it sarcastically because he thought Ferdinand had accused him of saying it already.
The FA, however, banned him from four games, and was stripped of the England captaincy, which led to the resignation of Fabio Capello. Terry's relationship with Ferdinand fell apart as a result of the entire saga.
While Terry ultimately went on the play for England longer - he was included in England's squad for Euro 2012, whereas Ferdinand was left at home - this story has shown that Terry's past has come back to haunt him, as BT were concerned that Ferdinand would flat-out refuse to work with Terry.
Terry will make his football league debut with Villa later today.
[The Times]
