As I said in the JT thread, RF's claim that, if JT had owned up to saying the words and apologised while denying he was a racist, everything would have all died down and gone away and they would all have lived happily ever after, is complete bo**ocks.
The media and Kick It Out wanted blood. They created such a storm that the CPS felt compelled to prosecute him, before clearing him. And then the FA went after him as they didn't like the verdict.
The fact is JT always acknowledged using the words while denying he was a racist (which RF says was what he needed to do to put a lid on matters, as well as issuing an apology for, er, not being racist).
No, what was really needed to put a lid on a nasty and divisive matter, was for Anton Ferdinand to react with dignity in the way Ashley Cole reacted when he was racially abused by Rio Ferdinand.
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."
That was the way for Anton F to deal with the matter. AF could have said that he and JT had a heated exchange in a highly-charged local derby but that JT made no racial comments towards him. Nor had he ever done. He could have said that he wasn't going to kick up a fuss over incomplete video footage of JT apparently saying something noone heard.
He, his family and advisers chose a very different approach to Ashley Cole's way of dealing with RF's (unambiguously racist) tweet, with very ugly, divisive consequences for all concerned. What the hell were they hoping to achieve? And what is RF trying to achieve by dragging all this up again?
Oh, yes, a few book sales. Because I'm sure he needs the money.