MASIKINI JOHN TERRY...

John Terry has been banned for four matches and fined £220,000 after being found guilty of racially abusing QPR's Anton Ferdinand by a Football Association independent regulatory commission.

Chelsea's skipper denied the charge but the commission ruled that he was guilty of misconduct during the Blues' Barclays Premier League defeat at QPR on October 23 last year.

The 31-year-old, who on Sunday announced his retirement from international football, can lodge an appeal against the panel's decision.

Day four: Terry received a four-match ban

Terry's representatives, Elite Management, said in a statement released on his behalf: 'Mr Terry is disappointed that the FA Regulatory Commission has reached a different conclusion to the clear not guilty verdict of a court of law.

'He has asked for the detailed written reasons of the decision and will consider them carefully before deciding whether to lodge an appeal.'

An FA statement said: 'An independent regulatory commission has today 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.

Back in action: Terry featured against Wolves on Tuesday night

 

'The charge was the result of The FA's long-standing investigation into this matter, which was placed on hold at the request of the Crown Prosecution Service and Mr Terry's representatives pending the outcome of the criminal trial.

'The decision of the Independent Regulatory Commission is as follows:

• Mr Terry be suspended from all domestic club football until such time as Chelsea's First Team have completed four competitive matches.

• Fined the sum of £220,000.

'The independent regulatory commission will provide written reasons for its decision in due course. Mr Terry has the right to appeal the decision of the independent regulatory commission to an Appeal Board. An appeal must be lodged within 14 days from receipt of the written reasons for the decision.

'The penalty is suspended until after the outcome of any appeal, or the time for appealing expires, or should Mr Terry decide not to appeal. The reason for this is to ensure that the penalty does not take effect before any appeal so that Mr Terry has an effective right of appeal.'

Chelsea released their own statement which read: 'Chelsea Football Club notes and respects today's decision by the Football Association regarding John Terry. 

Precedent: Suarez (left) was banned for eight matches last season

'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.'

The case centred around an incident during Chelsea's Barclays Premier League defeat at QPR on October 23 last year when the pair clashed verbally on a number of occasions.

Terry was found not guilty in Westminster Magistrates Court in July of a racially-aggravated public order offence with the prosecution unable to prove he had called Ferdinand a "f****** black c***" as an insult.

Terry admitted using the words, but insisted he had only been repeating words he thought Ferdinand had accused him of saying.

Cleared: Terry faced a court case earlier this summer regarding the same incident

Chelsea and England team-mate Ashley Cole gave evidence that helped exonerate Terry, telling the court: 'We shouldn't be sitting here'.

The FA's decision to press ahead with their own charges infuriated Terry to the extent that on the eve of the disciplinary hearing he announced he was quitting international football with immediate effect, saying his position was 'untenable'.

Terry's legal team had argued the governing body's own rules dictated that his acquittal in court meant the case could not proceed but the FA believed their charge was distinct from the court charge.

The panel who handed Liverpool striker Luis Suarez an eight-match ban when they found him guilty of racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra last season declared at that time that simply using racist language was enough to constitute a breach of FA rules.

JOHN TERRY - HIGHS AND LOWS

HIGH - Makes Chelsea debut against Aston Villa in October 1998.

LOW - Is one of four players fined two weeks' wages by Chelsea after their behaviour at a Heathrow hotel is criticised on the day after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

LOW - In 2002, Terry and Chelsea team-mate Jody Morris are cleared after being charged with assault and affray in connection with a nightclub incident. Terry, uncapped at the time, is ruled out of the World Cup by the FA until the legal case is completed.

HIGH - Makes England debut as substitute against Serbia and Montenegro in June 2003.

HIGH - Appointed Chelsea captain as the successor to Marcel Desailly in August 2004.

HIGH - Succeeds David Beckham as England captain in August 2006.

LOW - Misses crucial kick in a penalty shoot-out to decide the 2008 Champions League final against Manchester United, who go on to lift the trophy.

LOW - In December 2009, Chelsea are forced to defend Terry after allegations he took secret cash payments to lay on a behind-the-scenes tour of the club's training ground.

LOW - In January 2010, Terry is named as the sportsman behind a gagging injunction involving his private life. A court order had previously been in place, covering an alleged relationship between married Terry and French model Vanessa Perroncel, a former partner of team-mate Wayne Bridge.

LOW - Is axed as England captain in February following a meeting with Fabio Capello.

LOW - Bridge refuses to shake Terry's hand before Chelsea's match with Manchester City on February 27.

HIGH - Is restored to the role of permanent England captain by Capello in March 2011.

LOW - In October 2011, Terry is accused of making a racist slur against Anton Ferdinand during Chelsea's defeat at QPR. A police investigation is launched which culminates in the Crown Prosecution Service announcing that charges would be brought. In February 2012, West London Magistrates' Court rules that Terry should stand trial in the week beginning July 9.

LOW - Terry is stripped of the England captaincy for a second time on February 3. The decision was taken by members of the 14-strong FA board, without consulting Capello. Capello resigns as England manager on February 8, two days after criticising the decision to strip Terry of the captaincy.

HIGH - Terry captains Chelsea to a famous 1-0 victory over Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final encounter at Stamford Bridge on April 18.

LOW - A week later, Chelsea's hopes in the second leg at the Nou Camp are hit when Terry is shown a straight red card for inexplicably kneeing Alexis Sanchez from behind in the first half.

HIGH - Is cleared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on July 13 of making a racist insult to Ferdinand, but two weeks later is charged by the FA with using abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards the QPR defender. It is further alleged that this included a reference to the ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race of Ferdinand. Terry denies the charge and requests a personal hearing.

LOW - Announces his retirement from international football on September 23, shortly before the start of his personal hearing to answer the FA charge.

LOW - Banned for four matches and fined £220,000 by an FA independent regulatory commission.

 

 

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Thursday, September 27, 2012