FA to probe Terry on QPR racist claims
Videos circulated on the internet in the aftermath of Sunday’s game, with some claiming the footage shows Terry insulting Ferdinand using racist language.
Terry has denied racially abusing Ferdinand but Ferdinand met with QPR representatives and manager Neil Warnock at the Hoops’ Harlington training ground yesterday to discuss the issue and decided to complain to the FA — a move which could have huge implications for Terry.
An FA statement read: “The FA can confirm it has received a complaint relating to an alleged incident of racist abuse in the QPR versus Chelsea fixture at Loftus Road on 23 October 2011.
“The FA will now begin to make enquiries into this matter. The FA takes seriously any allegations of discrimination and abuse of this type.”
Terry met with Ferdinand in the away dressing room at Loftus Road following QPR’s 1-0 win in an attempt to persuade the 26-year-old that he did not racially abuse him.
The England captain then released a statement saying he was “disappointed” that some people had come to the “wrong conclusions” about the supposed context in which he had made the comments towards Ferdinand, adding: “I thought Anton was accusing me of using a racist slur against him. I responded aggressively, saying that I never used that term.
“I would never say such a thing, and I’m saddened that people would think so.”
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas offered his full backing to Terry yesterday over the alleged comments.
Villas-Boas said: “He’s put out his statement and we fully back John.
“John Terry represents this country internationally and it should also be that people who represent this country should have better and fuller support instead of stories based on speculation.”
Villas-Boas’ comments came hours after police confirmed that they are “assessing” claims Terry racially abused Ferdinand after receiving a complaint from a member of the public.
Terry said that he would fight to clear his name in a statement which read: “I welcome the FA enquiry and look forward to clearing my name as soon as possible. Until then I have no further comment.”
Chelsea reiterated their support for Terry.
“John has issued a statement categorically denying any allegations of racist abuse. We stand by John and his statement,” a Chelsea spokesman said.
Villas-Boas, meanwhile, was unrepentant yesterday over his attack on referee Chris Foy after the west London derby, insisting he had done nothing to warrant an FA charge.
The FA wrote to Villas-Boas yesterday afternoon asking for an explanation for his criticism of Foy and the official’s two assistants following Sunday’s Barclays Premier League defeat.
Chelsea were also charged with “failure to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion” after some of them surrounded Foy when Jose Bosingwa was red carded.
The Blues were given until Friday to respond on both counts, after which Villas-Boas could be hit with a charge for accusing the referee of not treating both sides equally and of being “card happy”.
But speaking shortly before the FA announced they were taking action against the Blues, the 34-year-old stood by his words, something that could land him in even more trouble.
“I don’t think I said anything I shouldn’t have,” Villas-Boas said.
“I would never question the referee’s integrity.
“But the fact is that, at the moment, we are paying heavily in terms of major decisions.
“I will stick to my words. Chris, for this particular game, was card happy and didn’t show a pattern to what he’s done in the past.’’
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