Soccer: The Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed England and Chelsea captain John Terry will be charged with racially abusing Queens Park Rangers player Anton Ferdinand. Terry, who has always denied any wrongdoing in the game on October 23rd, is due in court on February 1st.
Alison Saunders, Chief Crown Prosecutor for London said this afternoon there was "sufficient evidence" to proceed with a charge, but Terry has insisted he will fight "tooth and nail" to clear his name.
“I have today advised the Metropolitan Police Service that John Terry should be prosecuted for a racially aggravated public order offence following comments allegedly made during a Premier League football match between Queen’s Park Rangers and Chelsea on October 23rd, 2011," said Saunders.
“The decision was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors and after careful consideration of all the evidence, I am satisfied there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest to prosecute this case.
“Mr Terry will appear before West London Magistrates’ Court on February 1st, 2012. He is now summonsed with a criminal offence and has the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that nothing should be reported which could prejudice his trial.”
Terry was quick to respond the charge. Camera footage showed Terry making a remark, although he claimed he was merely repeating an accusation he felt had been made by Ferdinand.
“I am disappointed with the decision to charge me and hope to be given the chance to clear my name as quickly as possible,” he said. “I have never aimed a racist remark at anyone and count people from all races and creeds among my closest friends,” he added. “I will fight tooth and nail to prove my innocence. I have campaigned against racism and believe there is no place for it in society.”
Chelsea released a separate statement, which read: "John has made it clear he denies the charge and is determined to do all he can to prove his innocence.
"Chelsea FC has always been fully supportive of John in this matter and will continue to be so. The club finds all forms of discrimination abhorrent and we are proud of the work we undertake campaigning on this important issue.
"Chelsea will not be commenting further on the subject while the legal process runs its course."
Terry, who has been absent from training with Chelsea in recent days after suffering an Achilles problem, has been included in the playing squad for the club's next game against Tottenham on Thursday night.
The Football Association are yet to respond to the latest development, although it potentially puts them in a tricky position. They opted to stand by Terry for the most recent internationals, with Fabio Capello naming the Chelsea man as skipper for the friendly with over Sweden at Wembley last month.
At the time, Capello said he believed Terry to be innocent until proven guilty. However, the day after hitting Liverpool’s Luis Suarez with an eight-match ban over comments made to Patrice Evra, if Terry is found guilty, he can expect to receive a similar punishment.
Not only that, it would place a major question mark over his captaincy of the national side, an honour he only regained in March after having it stripped from him 13 months earlier due to problems in his private life.
