Published: Today at 00:04
JOHN Terry is facing an FA ban — despite being cleared of a racist slur yesterday.
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He and Anton Ferdinand are BOTH likely to be punished for their foul-mouthed spat on the pitch.
The FA will reopen their own inquiry into the scandal — and are ready to charge them with bringing the game into disrepute and using offensive language.
So although Chelsea skipper Terry, 31, beat the charge of racially abusing Ferdinand, his nine-month ordeal is far from over.
The FA refuses to close the book on the clash — captured by TV cameras at the QPR-Chelsea Premier League game last year.
“Now the trial has been concluded we will look at it again — including all evidence given in court.
“In the light of Terry being cleared of racial abuse by a court it is unlikely that we will uncover further evidence on that. But there could be charges of ‘bringing the game into disrepute’ and using ‘offensive, insulting and or abusive language’.”
Both stars admitted as much on oath during the trial so can expect a ban of at least two matches.
Clearance in the box
By TOM WELLS
RELIEVED Chelsea skipper John Terry walked stony-faced from court yesterday as he was CLEARED of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand.
The ex-England captain, 31, had nodded silently in the dock as a court ruled it wasNOT meant as a slur towards the QPR star when he said “f***ing black ****.”
Pals roared with delight in the public gallery at the most important clearance of the £170,000-a-week defender’s career.
Anton, 27 — younger brother of Terry’s England teammate Rio Ferdinand — was not in court. He flew out from Heathrow yesterday for his club’s pre-season tour in Asia.
Lawyers for Terry will now try to claim their legal costs from the state.
The overall bill to taxpayers could top £250,000 once security, policing, court time and staff costs are also taken into account.
Chief magistrate Howard Riddle told the Chelsea star he was happy he DID use the words in the QPR-Chelsea Premier League game last October. But he could not be sure they were “intended as an insult”.
Terry had denied the charge in the witness box and insisted he only repeated the phrase back to Ferdinand after the QPR player falsely accused him of making a racist comment.
“The prosecution evidence as to what was said by Mr Ferdinand at this point is not strong.”
Terry’s account had been backed by teammate Ashley Cole in court — but Mr Riddle branded the left-back’s evidence as “corroborating, although far from compelling”.
Mr Riddle added: “It is therefore possible that what he said was not intended as an insult, but rather as a challenge to what he believed had been said to him.
“In those circumstances, there being a doubt, the only verdict the court can record is one of not guilty.”
Terry, dressed in a grey suit, white shirt and grey tie, left court without making any comment accompanied by a private security guard. Outside a group of Chelsea fans cheered and waved club flags. Others cracked open bottles of pink champagne.
A spokesman for his legal team said: “The court has today acquitted John Terry of all charges.
“He has consistently explained his position to the FA, to the police and to the court. He did not racially abuse Mr Ferdinand and the court accepted this.
“John would like to thank his legal team for their hard work and his family, friends and Chelsea Football Club for their support.” Club chairman Bruce Buck added: “John can now put his mind to the football and go back to training as he has done for many years.”
Earlier, Terry looked nervous as he walked into Court One and took his seat in the dock just before 2pm.
He had to sit anxiously alone in front of the packed court for 15 minutes before proceedings began, sipping water and playing with his phone.
A conviction would almost certainly have spelled the end of his international career. The FA stripped Terry of the England captaincy in February over the scandal until the allegations were “resolved”.
The decision led to coach Fabio Capello quitting days later.
Terry’s lucrative sponsorship deals are now likely to remain unharmed.
The five-day trial, which took place without a jury, heard how tempers flared at the end of the televised match which QPR won 1-0.
Ferdinand made an obscene “pumping fist” gesture at Terry and said: “You shagged your team-mate’s missus, you’re the ****.” He was referring to Wayne Bridge’s ex-partner, Vanessa Perroncel.
The Crown Prosecution Service stood by its decision to take the case to court, saying: “This was a very serious allegation.”
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