Rio Ferdinand has said he would not consider interviewing former England teammate John Terry on his football podcast network unless the ex-Chelsea captain first makes peace with his brother, Anton.
Speaking to The Times, Rio was asked whether he would ever welcome Terry onto one of his shows, which have featured some of the biggest names in world football.
His response made clear that the matter remains deeply personal.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I think he probably needs to speak to my brother before he speaks to me. And he’s not spoken to my brother.”
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The long-standing tension between the parties dates back to 2011, when Anton alleged that Terry directed racist language towards him during a Premier League match between Queens Park Rangers and Chelsea at Loftus Road.
The incident triggered one of English football’s most damaging controversies, leading to a police investigation, a court case, and disciplinary action by the Football Association.
Terry was stripped of the England captaincy, handed a four-match ban, and fined £220,000 by the FA, though he was acquitted in court of criminal charges.
Anton Ferdinand and John Terry clashed during a Premier League match in 2011
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The defender maintained throughout that he had not used a racial slur, claiming instead that he had merely repeated the words in question to deny using them.\
In his testimony, Terry said he had asked Ferdinand, “Oi, Anton, do you think I called you a black c**t?”
The fallout left lasting scars. Anton later revealed that he felt isolated and vilified during the episode, despite being the target of the alleged abuse.
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Anton Ferdinand claims he was subjected to more racist abuse following the incident with John Terry in 2011
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In interviews since, he has said the experience made him feel like the guilty party and that he was subjected to further racial abuse in its aftermath.
In a 2021 documentary, Anton said he reached out to Terry, inviting him to meet and discuss the incident publicly in an attempt to draw a line under the matter.
He claims the offer went unanswered.
Terry later issued an apology for the “language used” during the exchange but has never spoken directly with Anton about it.
Rio, who captained Manchester United and won six Premier League titles, has since built a successful media career.
His YouTube and podcast ventures have attracted global football icons, known for their mix of in-depth interviews and honest reflection.
Rio Ferdinand and John Terry were once England teammates
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Yet the former defender insists that reconciliation between Terry and his brother must come before any professional collaboration.
The feud between the two men once defined a turbulent period for the England national team, which was fractured by the controversy and its aftermath.
For Rio, loyalty to his brother remains the decisive factor, and any conversation with Terry would only happen once that unresolved chapter is addressed.
Asked which guests he most wants to feature in future episodes, Ferdinand’s ambitions remain global.
“Messi,” he said. “I’m going through all the channels, talking to Becks,” he added, referring to David Beckham.
“He’s such a phenomenal footballer, but we don’t know who he is.”