Soccer:Anton Ferdinand broke his silence today after John Terry was found guilty of using racist language towards him. Ferdinand hit out at abuse he claimed he received on Twitter since Terry was handed a four-match ban and €250,000 (£220,000) fine by an independent FA panel over the pair's altercation almost a year ago.

Ferdinand hit out at abuse he claimed he received on Twitter since Terry was handed a four-match ban and €250,000 (£220,000) fine by an independent panel over the pair's altercation almost a year ago.

The QPR defender tweeted: "On a serious note people need 2 read the facts before they send stupid tweets 2 me with liar and grass in it footage don't lie!"

Ferdinand's comment seemed to refer to the video footage that showed Chelsea captain Terry using the words "f****** black c***" towards him during last October's west London derby at Loftus Road.

Terry was cleared in July by Westminster Magistrates Court of uttering the words as an insult, but that did not prevent him being found guilty under FA rules on Thursday.

Terry, who has always denied all charges against him, was still deciding on today whether to appeal the verdict and indicated yesterday he would wait until he was in receipt of the written judgment before making that decision.

Chelsea refused to answer questions on Terry's ban at their press conference today ahead of tomorrow's Barclays Premier League game at Arsenal. Head of communications Steve Atkins made that clear in a statement beforehand, insisting the club did not want to prejudice any appeal.

That did not prevent manager Roberto Di Matteo being quizzed on the subject, but Atkins repeatedly interjected, most notably when the Italian was asked about the club's policy on players found guilty of using racist language.

Di Matteo did confirm that Terry was fit and available for the match and would continue to captain the club if picked. He revealed Terry had trained on Friday and on Thursday, that he had spoken to the 31-year-old, and that he had no fear about the player's mental state or how he would react to abuse he might suffer on Saturday and beyond.

"He trained well today, as hard as always," Di Matteo said. "He's an experienced player who has played many difficult games before, in difficult circumstances and environments.

"If selected, I don't think there will be a problem."

Di Matteo felt the same about the possibility of an adverse reaction from Terry's team-mates to Thursday's verdict, saying: "Well, there isn't any, no, as far as I know and as far as I can see."

Terry's career has been one of defiance in the face of adversity but asked whether this was his biggest test, Di Matteo said: "He still has many years to play to come. I don't know what the future will hold. He likes to focus on the football, and that's all I have to be concerned about."

Di Matteo also shrugged off what the outside world might think of Chelsea in the wake of the Terry verdict.

"We don't really care too much the way the outside environment sees us," he said. "We have to focus on our strength. That's the way we operate."

Terry quit England on the eve of this week's hearing, accusing the FA of making his position "untenable".

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, who saw Patrice Evra and Luis Suarez end their own feud at Anfield on Sunday, feels the ban is “quite lenient”.

“There is a danger of it resurrecting itself because it has been going on so long,” said Ferguson. “But the fact he got a four-game ban, he may consider that is quite lenient considering Luis Suarez got eight. It is time to move on and so should the game.”

Terry’s absence from the England set-up has raised the possibility of Rio Ferdinand being recalled to bolster Roy Hodgson’s central defensive options. As one of only two centre-halves currently fit at United, Ferguson would be fearful of Ferdinand getting injured on international duty. And whilst he has not spoken to Ferdinand about the situation, he does not view an England recall as likely.

“I wouldn’t think he will get called up,” said Ferguson. “Roy Hodgson made his decision before the European Championships and I can’t see him changing that. It would be difficult for him now to go back to Rio Ferdinand and welcome him back.”