When it comes to his footballing podcast, Rio Ferdinand will talk to almost anyone.
From top players to rising stars, there’s very little that’s off-limits. But there is one exception: John Terry.
The former England and Chelsea captain is firmly off the table—at least for now.
Rio has made it clear that there’s a condition Terry must meet before he’s even considered for an interview.
The Lingering Shadow of the 2011 Racism Controversy
The backstory goes back to 2011, when Rio’s brother Anton Ferdinand alleged that Terry had directed racially-charged language toward him during a match between QPR and Chelsea at Loftus Road.
The incident sparked a high-profile racism row that rocked English football.
The fallout was severe: Terry was stripped of the England captaincy, handed a four-match ban, and fined £220,000 by the Football Association.
Meanwhile, Anton said he felt like he was made out to be the guilty party, and that he endured more racial abuse as a result of the saga.
Rio’s Condition for a Podcast Interview
Now, over a decade later, Rio Ferdinand has set the ground rules for Terry’s appearance on his show.
He insists that Terry must first speak with Anton and address the past before Rio will even consider hosting him.
In an interview with The Times, Rio said:
“I don’t know. I think he probably needs to speak to my brother before he speaks to me. And he’s not spoken to my brother.”
Anton Ferdinand Speaks Out
Earlier this year on the podcast How Do You Cope?, Anton reflected on the incident.
He admitted he didn’t actually hear the racial slur at the time, but video evidence later suggested Terry allegedly called him a “f****** black ****.”
While Terry faced criminal charges for racial abuse, he was cleared in court.
Terry maintained that he never said the slur, claiming instead:
“Oi, Anton, do you think I called you a black ****?”
The FA charged Terry for using “abusive and/or insulting words or behaviour” referencing Anton’s race.
Terry chose not to appeal the FA’s decision and later apologized for the “language used.”
Despite attempts, Anton claims he never received a response from Terry when he invited him to discuss the matter publicly.
Who Else Might Take the Mic?
If Terry isn’t on the podcast, who does Rio hope to bring on? The former Manchester United star hinted at some of football’s biggest names.
“[Lionel] Messi. I’m going through all the channels, talking to Becks [David Beckham].
He’s such a phenomenal footballer but we don’t know who he is.”
Clearly, Rio’s podcast ambition stretches far beyond controversy, reaching global football legends—just with a few necessary exceptions along the way.