John Terry decides not to appeal against four-match ban
John Terry has issued an apology after deciding not to appeal against his four-match ban for racially abusing QPR’s Anton Ferdinand.
The Chelsea captain will miss the club’s next four domestic matches.
An independent Football Association panel found him guilty of racially abusing Ferdinand during a game between Chelsea and QPR on 23 October, 2011.
Terry said: “I want to take this opportunity to apologise to everyone for the language I used in the game.”
The 31-year-old defender added: “Although I’m disappointed with the FA judgment, I accept that the language I used, regardless of the context, is not acceptable on the football field or indeed in any walk of life.
“As I stated in the criminal case, with the benefit of hindsight my language was clearly not an appropriate reaction to the situation for someone in my position. My response was below the level expected by Chelsea Football Club, and by me, and it will not happen again.”
Terry will now miss Chelsea’s Premier League fixtures against Tottenham, Manchester United and Swansea as well as a League Cup fourth-round tie against Manchester United.
From BBC Sport