Ferdinand joins brother in ending T-shirt boycott

LONDON (AFP) –

Manchester United‘s English defender Rio Ferdinand (L) warms up with English midfielder Paul Scholes (R), both wearing the T-shirt from Kick It Out’s ‘One Game, One Community’ campaign before the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in London.

Rio Ferdinand followed the example of younger brother Anton by wearing a ‘Kick It Out’ anti-racism T-shirt prior to Manchester United’s game at Chelsea on Sunday.

Both brothers had boycotted the campaign prior to last weekend’s Premier League matches, in protest at perceived leniency from the football authorities when dealing with racism in the game.

Anton Ferdinand donned the T-shirt ahead of Queens Park Rangers’ 1-0 loss at Arsenal on Saturday, and his brother followed suit at Stamford Bridge the following day.

However, United winger Ashley Young — recalled to the starting line-up by coach Alex Ferguson — did not wear a T-shirt.

Rio Ferdinand also shook hands with Chelsea’s Ashley Cole prior to the game, despite Cole having testified in support of John Terry after the Blues captain was accused of racially abusing Anton in a match last year.