John Terry accused of racial comment

Monday, 24 October 2011 00:00

QPR are to discuss reports their defender Anton Ferdinand was subjected to a "racial slur" by Chelsea captain John Terry, BBC Sport understands.

TV footage allegedly shows Terry using a racist insult towards Ferdinand in QPR's 1-0 win on Sunday, but the Blues centre-back denies any wrongdoing.

"I'd never say such a thing," he said. "I'm saddened people would think so."

QPR officials will meet Ferdinand on Tuesday and decide whether to proceed with a formal complaint.

Chelsea lost 1-0 at Loftus Road in a bad-tempered game in which they were reduced to nine men in the first half, with Terry involved in several angry confrontations with referee Chris Foy.

The Blues skipper conceded he responded "aggressively" during the game when Ferdinand accused him of using a "racial slur" but insisted footage merely showed him "saying that I never used that term".

In his full statement, Terry said: "I've seen that there's a lot of comments on the internet with regards to some video footage of me in today's game.

"I'm disappointed that people have leapt to the wrong conclusions about the context of what I was seen to be saying to Anton Ferdinand. I thought Anton was accusing me of using a racist slur against him. I responded aggressively, saying that I never used that term."

Terry added that Ferdinand had made no complaint and said the two remained on good terms.

"I have known Anton for a long time and spoke to him about it after the game and there was no problem between us," the England captain added.

"I congratulated him on their win. He has not accused me of any wrongful remark. It was clear it was all a misunderstanding at the time.

"After the result today, I am saddened to be dealing with these wrongful allegations."