Terry handed four-match ban

The Chelsea skipper had denied the charge but an FA independent regulatory commission ruled he was guilty of misconduct during the Premier League defeat at QPR on 23 October last year. He was also fined £220,000 ($341,962), thought to be just over a week's wages.

Terry, 31, is considering an appeal, but questions have been asked why the ban imposed was only half the length of Liverpool's Luis Suarez, who served an eight-match suspension for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.

Senior figures in football's anti-racism movements have privately queried the difference, but are unlikely to speak publicly until the appeals process is completed.

Joey Barton has also criticised the decision as 'a shambles' compared to his own 12-game ban for violent conduct. He wrote on Twitter: "What an absolute farce. 12 games for violent conduct and only 4 for that. FA should be embarrassed £shambles."

Terry expressed disappointment after the outcome, pointing out he was found not guilty in magistrates court in July of a racially-motivated public order offence in connection with the same incident.

A statement released on his behalf by Terry's representatives, Elite Management, read: "Mr Terry is disappointed that the FA Regulatory Commission has reached different conclusion to the clear not guilty verdict of a court of law.

"He has asked for the detailed written reasons of the decision and will consider them carefully before deciding whether to lodge an appeal."

Terry had been accused of calling Ferdinand a 'f****** black c***' as an insult. He admitted using the words, but insisted he had only been repeating words he thought Ferdinand had accused him of saying.

The written reasons will also provide the explanation for the difference in length of ban compared to Suarez.

The most likely outcome is that Terry only said the insult once, while Suarez was judged by his panel to have called Evra 'negro' up to seven times. Suarez was also fined around a week's wages - in his case £40,000 ($62,175).

Terry is likely to still be available to play for Chelsea against Arsenal this weekend as the ban does not start until after the appeals process has been concluded.

The defender has 14 days from the receipt of the written reasons for the decision, and if he does appeal then that hearing may not take place until the end of next month.

That could see the Chelsea captain still being available for the club's other Premier League matches in October against Norwich City, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.

Chelsea issued a statement which read it 'respected' the verdict - a different response to the stance taken by Liverpool over Suarez.

The statement read: "Chelsea Football Club notes and respects today's decision by the Football Association regarding John Terry.

"We also recognise that John has the right to appeal that decision.

"It is therefore inappropriate for us to comment further on the matter at this time."

The case centred around an incident during Chelsea's Premier League defeat at QPR when Terry and Ferdinand clashed verbally on a number of occasions.

The FA's decision to press ahead with its own charges infuriated Terry to the extent that on Sunday, on the eve of the disciplinary hearing he announced he was quitting international football with immediate effect, saying his position was 'untenable'.

The FA has not provided any details about the decision, a statement merely laying out the outcome.

The FA statement read: "An independent regulatory commission has today found a charge of misconduct against John Terry proven and has issued a suspension for a period of four matches and a fine of £220,000, pending appeal.

"The Football Association charged Mr Terry on Friday 27 July 2012 with using abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards Queens Park Rangers' Anton Ferdinand and which included a reference to colour and/or race contrary to FA Rule E3[2] in relation to the Queens Park Rangers FC versus Chelsea FC fixture at Loftus Road on 23 October 2011.

"The charge was the result of The FA's long-standing investigation into this matter, which was placed on hold at the request of the Crown Prosecution Service and Mr Terry's representatives pending the outcome of the criminal trial."