John Terry banned and fined following guilty verdict
Chelsea captain John Terry has been banned for four matches and fined £220,000 after a charge of misconduct was proven against him.
The Football Association found Terry guilty of “using abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour” towards Queens Park Rangers’ Anton Ferdinand and which included a reference to colour and/or race contrary to FA Rule E3[2]” following a four-day hearing.
Terry admitted using the word “black” and swearing at Ferdinand in the match at Loftus Road on 23 October 2011 but insisted he had only been repeating words he thought the Rangers defender had accused him of saying.
Terry will have 14 days from receiving the written reasons to decide whether to lodge an appeal. The ban and fine will not come into effect until after the centre-half has decided what to do.
“Kick It Out notes the outcome,” said Kick It Out chair Lord Herman Ouseley. “There is a right to appeal. Kick It Out will be making no further comment on this until this right is exercised in full.”
The verdict released by The FA said: “An Independent Regulatory Commission has today [Thursday 27 September 2012] found a charge of misconduct against John Terry proven and has issued a suspension for a period of four matches and a fine of £220,000, pending appeal.
“The Football Association charged Mr Terry on Friday 27 July 2012 with using abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards Queens Park Rangers’ Anton Ferdinand and which included a reference to colour and/or race contrary to FA Rule E3 [2] in relation to the Queens Park Rangers FC versus Chelsea FC fixture at Loftus Road on 23 October 2011.”
A statement from Terry’s club said: “Chelsea Football Club notes and respects today’s decision by The Football Association regarding John Terry. We also recognise that John has the right to appeal that decision. It is therefore inappropriate for us to comment further on the matter at this time.”
A spokesman for Terry said the player was “disappointed” The FA had reached a “different conclusion” to the “not guilty verdict of a court of law”. In July, the ex-England captain, 31, was cleared by Westminster Magistrates’ Court of racially abusing Ferdinand.
The Terry statement continued: “He has asked for the detailed written reasons of the decision and will consider them carefully before deciding whether to lodge an appeal.”
From BBC Sport