Rio Ferdinand has spoken of how he still feels deep animosity towards John Terry over the racism row between the Chelsea stalwart and Ferdinand's brother Anton.
Ferdinand admitted that he no longer speaks to Terry or Ashley Cole after the incident at Loftus Road in 2011. At the time he was unable to give his thoughts on the matter due to legal advice, but excerpts from his woefully-titled autobiography have been published in a Sunday newspaper today. In #2sides - honestly that is what somebody has called their real-life, paper book - Ferdinand said:
"As England captain and my centre-back partner he could have saved everyone a lot of pain by admitting immediately he used the word in the heat of the moment, but was no racist.
"I think that's probably what happened and what the truth is. Anton and I would've accepted that – instead he never gave us a chance.
"That was the betrayal. He tried to run away from what he had done.
"I've never actually spoken to John about the case. I no longer talk to him, but even three years later I find it impossible to forgive or forget the pain he put us through."
Ferdinand also felt that the acrimony could have been avoided had Terry admitted his wrongdoing earlier. Instead, he claims that Terry's continued inclusion in England squads denied Ferdinand further call-ups and took a toll on his family life.
"There were bullets in the post.
"My mum had her windows smashed and bullets put through her door, and ended up in hospital because of the stress."
Ferdinand also mentioned how the row permanently poisoned his long-standing friendship with Ashley Cole. Cole's evidence supported Terry in court, which helped secure Terry's acquittal for racial abuse. Despite this, the FA found him guilty of using absuve or insulting words towards another player. Said Ferdinand:
"Ashley Cole had long been a friend of mine. We've known each other since we were kids.
"But for me it ended the day he decided to go to court in support of John Terry.
"Anton rang me and my head nearly blew off. He was betraying Anton, who he'd also known for years."
Ferdinand also acknowledged that he was wrong to tweet that Cole was a "choc ice", ie black on the outside but white on the inside - a decision which cost him £45,000 when punished by the FA. "I shouldn't have done it, but it's what I felt at the time," he said.
