FA charges Terry over race row

A fortnight after being acquitted by a court of racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Ferdinand in October, Chelsea captain Terry was charged by the FA over the same incident.

Despite being given a week to respond, Terry's reaction was instant, the 31-year-old saying in a statement released to Press Association Sport: "I deny the charge and I will be requesting the opportunity to attend the commission for a personal hearing."

Moments earlier, the FA said in a statement: "Chelsea captain John Terry has been charged by the Football Association with using abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, the FA have confirmed.

"It is further alleged that this included a reference to the ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race of Ferdinand."

Terry was found not guilty of calling Ferdinand a "f****** black c***" during a five-day trial at Westminster Magistrates Court that ended two weeks ago, with District Judge Howard Riddle ruling there was reasonable doubt whether the words were intended as an insult.

Terry has always maintained they were not, insisting they formed part of a denial to an accusation of racism from Ferdinand during Chelsea's Barclays Premier League defeat at QPR on 23 October.

The Blues skipper was acquitted on that basis but the FA refused to drop its own investigation into the matter, which it had put on hold the moment Terry was charged with a criminal offence.

It confirmed it had sought advice from "an external Independent QC" and had also taken into account the trial evidence and verdict before deciding to act.

It added: "This charge is the result of the FA's long-standing enquiries into this matter, which were placed on hold pending the outcome of the criminal trial, and relates to rules governing football only."

Whereas the prosecution in court had to prove Terry's guilt beyond reasonable doubt, the FA disciplinary commission can reach verdicts purely on the balance of probabilities, a much lower burden of proof.

It did just that in December when Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was handed an eight-match ban for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.

Terry could face even more dire consequences if found guilty, although it had yet to be decided when his personal hearing would be.

If it is not before 15 August, the FA has confirmed he will be free to play for England in their friendly against Italy - he was also allowed to play at the European championship prior to his trial.

But Terry has already lost the England captaincy over the mere allegation of racism and his international career would effectively be ended by a guilty verdict.

That would also place enormous pressure on Chelsea, where he has been skipper for more than eight years, and which has taken a hard line on racism among its own supporters.