Kieron Dyer admits he regrets his decision to defend Newcastle United team-mate Emre Belozoglu in an FA hearing over alleged racial abuse.
The Turkish international was charged with using racially aggravated language in a clash with Everton defender Joseph Yobo in December 2006.
Yobo's team-mates Tim Howard and Joelon Lescott both accused Emre of using racist language, but Emre was cleared in an FA hearing into the incident at Goodison Park in March 2007.
Dyer was asked by the Magpies hierarchy to provide a character witness for his team-mate, and he told the panel he did not hear any racist language.
However, reflecting on the incident and Lescott's furious reaction, the former United and West Ham winger has revealed it is not a decision he would make again.
Dyer told The Kick Off : "There was a massive skirmish between him and Joseph Yobo, and Joleon Lescott was going f****** ballistic, and he was saying he's said something racist about Yobo.
"They were trying to get to him in the tunnel, I've never seen Joleon so mad. They've reported it to the referee, and there was a massive FA hearing.
"Because I was on the pitch and because I was black, Newcastle asked me to go as a witness for Emre. I went there and I had to tell the truth which was did you hear anything racist? I didn't hear anything racist, and I told my side of the story.
"The more I think about that, just from Joleon's reaction, he wouldn't go mad for that. Knowing what I do now, maturing and having a level-head and taking everything on board, I really regret going to that hearing.
"Even though Emre was my team-mate and even though I didn't hear anything, you don't have that reaction for nothing."
Emre was accused on three occasions of using racist language during his three-year spell on Tyneside, but the midfielder denied all three claims and was not found guilty by the FA.
However, the Turkish international was given a suspended two-and-a-half prison sentence for racist language used against former Tottenham midfielder Didier Zokora while playing for Fenerbahce in April 2012.
The unsavoury incident on Merseyside also led to Dyer feeling used by the club because of his ethnicity.
When asked if he felt used by the Magpies, he replied: "Of course I was.
"Emre was a team-mate and a friend. It's not like I lied on oath for him. But knowing what I know and seeing that reaction, if that had have happened today and the club goes to me we want you to be a witness, I'd say no."
