It was a scandal that sent shockwaves through the Premier League, as two players once thought to be close friends saw their bond shattered forever.
England teammates Wayne Bridge and John Terry were at the centre of a shocking fall-out, when it was claimed that the latter had an affair with his pal’s then-girlfriend, French underwear model Vanessa Perroncel.
While Vanessa has since hit back at the claims, it still rocked the world of sport, bringing an abrupt end to John’s friendship with Wayne, and sparking awkward scenes when the pair crossed paths on the pitch.
It was thought that both players had moved on from the 2009 drama, but last week it was brought firmly back to the forefront, thanks to influencer KSI.
Wayne had been set to fight the YouTube star in Manchester on March 29, until KSI aimed an X-rated dig at his oppenent, during an appearance at Misfits Boxing 20 on Saturday night.
During a face-off in the ring with Bridge, KSI said: ‘Aren’t you the guy that let John Terry smash your ex?’ Bridge replied: ‘You want to go there straight away do you?’
Wayne Bridge and John Terry were at the centre of a shocking fall-out, when it was claimed that the latter had an affair with his pal’s then-girlfriend Vanessa Perroncel (pictured in 2003)
Vanessa and Wayne, who shared son Jaydon, 18, split in the midst of the scandal, and brought an end to his friendship with John (pictured in 2008)
‘I’m pretty sure that’s what you’re known for,’ KSI added, before riling up the crowd and starting a chant that went: ‘Vanessa woah, Vanessa woah’, referencing Bridge’s ex-girlfriend Vanessa Perroncel.
KSI proceeded to add X-rated words to his chant that directly referenced Terry and Bridge’s former partner.
In the aftermath, Wayne announced on Monday that he will be pulling out of the fight, saying that he wishes to protect his family from such comments and will seek another challenge in the ring later down the line.
The sportsman married The Saturdays star Frankie Bridge in 2014, and they share sons Parker, 11, and Carter, nine. He and ex Vaness also share son Jaydon, 18.
The statement read: ‘I’m sure a lot of you have seen what happened on Saturday night at the Misfits Boxing event.
‘Firstly, I think it’s important that I explain my reason for accepting the fight. I always like to challenge myself. This felt like a good opportunity to go up against an interesting opponent on a big stage.
‘I have always loved boxing as part of my everyday training routine. I was fully prepared to train hard and have some fun. Of course, I expected to face some criticism, but I feel like what was said on Saturday crossed a line.
‘These are deeply personal comments that affect mine and other families involved in the situation. I’m a family man first and my priority is protecting them.
KSI made an X-rated dig at Wayne over the affair during a face-off on Saturday. The pair had been due to take part in a boxing fight in March, but Wayne pulled out following his comments
Following the scandal, Wayne famously refused to shake John’s hand during Chelsea’s clash with Manchester City in 2010
‘My opponent is someone that many children look up to around the, including my kids. I hope one day he will look back on this differently. I personally don’t want to be involved in these exchanges. I will no longer be fighting on March 29.
‘I’m still looking out for my next big challenge and have some exciting things coming up in 2025. Thanks for all the love. The support has been overwhelming.
‘I want my friends and family to know how special they are. Deep down I know this is the right thing to do.’
Wayne and John first clashed in 2009 when it was alleged by The News of the World that Terry had been involved in a romantic relationship with Bridge’s then partner Vanessa Perroncel in 2009.
The pair had long been close friends and for a period they were neighbours in a gated community in Surrey. Wayne was with John at Chelsea for five years until he moved to Manchester City in 2008.
Although Perroncel rubbished the credibility of the story, which later prompted the newspaper to issue an apology, Bridge refused to shake Terry’s hand ahead of Manchester City’s clash with Chelsea in 2010.
Both players were also goaded over the situation by rival supporters and the pair are no longer friends over the incident.
The fall-out also led Wayne to announce his retirement from international football in 2010, meaning he wouldn’t be joining the squad, and John in South Africa for the World Cup.
He said at the time that England’s squad would be ‘untenable and potentially divisive’ with he and Terry amongst the nation’s ranks.
In 2022, the pair also avoided a run-in when it was revealed they were saying at the same H๏τel during the World Cup in Qatar.
The fall-out also led Wayne to announce his retirement from international football in 2010, meaning he wouldn’t be joining the squad in South Africa for the World Cup (pictured in 2006)
Wayne married The Saturdays star Frankie Bridge in 2014, and they share sons Parker, 11, and Carter, nine
John, who retired in 2018, married his childhood sweetheart Toni in 2006, and she stood by him throughout the scandal
Meanwhile, John was stripped of his England captaincy by then-manager Fabio Capello due to the scandal, though he was reinstated the following year.
Read More KSI taunts ex-England star Wayne Bridge with awkward X-rated John Terry jibe as fans boo fight 
The sportsman, who retired in 2018, married his childhood sweetheart Toni in 2007, and she stood by him throughout the scandal.
The couple are parents to fraternal twins Georgie and Summer, 18.
John had initially used human rights laws to obtain a gagging order against the press to prevent the affair from coming to light, claiming his right to a ‘private and family life’ at the time.
He told the High Court that people should have the right to criticise ‘socially harmful’ behaviour because freedom of speech is as important as the right to privacy.
The judge said Terry had made no mention of personal distress and appeared to be ‘a very robust personality.’ He said the secrecy claim was more likely to be about ‘protection of reputation’ and was ‘essentially a business matter’.
The judge was critical of the way Terry, his business partners and Schillings, one of the best-known celebrity law firms, had tried to keep the affair under wraps. The injunction was eventually lifted a week after it was first imposed.
At the time, the court did not specify when John’s affair began or how long it lasted, but there was one unconfirmed suggestion that it was still going as recently as a month before it emerged.
John has previously admitted to cheating on Toni.
In 2005, two years before marrying, he said: ‘I’ve misbehaved and slept with girls behind her back. I’m not going to cheat on her ever again and I want to marry her more than anything.’
But the day he was quoted, it emerged he had a fling with a blonde – and even borrowed his friend Bridge’s £4million house as a love nest.
His alleged lover Shalimar Wimble, 25, claimed: ‘John never mentioned his fiancée Toni to me – I guess that’s why he took me to Wayne’s place.’
Since the scandal, Vanessa has kept a noticeably low profile, though she took to Instagram in November to celebrate her son Jaydon’s 18th birthday.
Posting a snap of her son, she wrote: ‘Happiest of birthdays to the love of my life, my son, my best friend.
‘The big 18 today! Time has flown by so fast, I love you to infinity. I’m so proud of you and so honoured you chose me to be your mum. May all your dreams come true.
‘To many many more years of adventures and laughter. Shine bright my love.’
