Terry anger over racial abuse claim (From Worcester News)
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Terry anger over racial abuse claim
2:17pm Tuesday 10th July 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013
Chelsea captain John Terry arrives at Westminster Magistrates Court where he denies a racially aggravated public order offence
John Terry reacted with anger at claims he racially abused footballer Anton Ferdinand, a court has heard.
The former England captain told Westminster Magistrates' Court he was hurt and shocked by suggestions he called Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand a "f****** black c***" during a Chelsea match against QPR on October 23 last year.
During his trial for a racially aggravated public order offence, which he denies, Terry listened to a Football Association interview he took part in shortly after the heated Premier League clash.
He told investigator Jennifer Kennedy that he believed Ferdinand shouted the words "black c***" at him during the game and understood the QPR player to be wrongly accusing him of shouting the slur.
Terry, 31, said: "I have been called a lot of things in my football career, and off the pitch, but being called a racist I am not prepared to take. That's why I came out and made my statement immediately. I am not having Anton thinking that about me or anyone else. That's not my character at all."
The players clashed in the QPR penalty area as Chelsea chased the game, one-nil down and with just nine players.
Ferdinand admits shouting abuse at Terry over his alleged relationship with Wayne Bridge's girlfriend Vanessa Perroncel. It was all "banter" but Terry was worried Ferdinand genuinely thought he had racially abused him so talked to him after the game, he said. "I felt strongly about it and wanted to clear it up before I left the stadium or he got the chance to leave the stadium."
Part of the exchange was caught on camera - Terry said he was aware of how the CCTV looked to people who did not understand the context.
Terry said that after hearing what Ferdinand said he repeated the phrase and then swore at him again.
Terry said he could not think of anything he said that would make the QPR player believe he had racially abused him. "I know I have nothing to hide," he said.
