Last Updated: 22nd July 2012
GABBY AGBONLAHOR insists he will shake John Terry’s hand — despite calls for black players to snub the Chelsea skipper.
JT was cleared in court of racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand nine days ago.
And Aston Villa striker Agbonlahor, at the centre of his own race-row with Joey Barton in 2008, said: “Players like me have to set a good example to kids.
"If we won’t shake someone’s hand then they see that and go into their Saturday and Sunday leagues and they won’t do it either.
“They might feel that’s OK because they saw us refuse to do the same on TV.
“A lot of kids love their football and watch us all the time — that’s why we have to be good role models.
“That’s definitely more important than political points scoring over an opponent.”
Agbonlahor refuses to support the clamour to scrap the FA’s Fair Play campaign amid claims it has descended into a farce.
He insists youngsters need to see more examples of good sportsmanship after high-profile rows involving Terry and Liverpool striker Luis Suarez.
Despite calls to snub JT this season, Agbonlahor said: “I don’t think there will be players who won’t shake his hand.
“I think they’ll all do it. When thousands and thousands are watching, you’re not going to refuse someone’s hand easily.
“You’re just going to go down everyone in the line because it’s ON the pitch and you have to show your professionalism.”
Agbonlahor was caught up in race storm with Barton in November 2008.
Barton, then at Newcastle, flicked his fingers at Agbonlahor’s lips in a provocative gesture.
But, unlike QPR defender Ferdinand, the forward did not take the matter further while the FA opted not to probe the incident.
Agbonlahor, currently on Villa’s pre-season tour in America, said: “I could have made a big deal of the incident but I thought to myself it’s best left on the pitch.
“I saw him again another time and he said to me it was something that happened on the pitch, it was nothing personal.
“I didn’t want to make a big fuss so I carried on.”
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