09/07/2012

John Terry Trial Played Footage Of Alleged Racial Abuse

A court has today heard that footballer, John Terry, used a racist obscenity against Anton Ferdinand after taunts about his alleged affair with a team-mate's ex-partner.

The 31-year-old Chelsea and England footballer denies the charge of a racially aggravated public order offence.

It relates to a comment allegedly made to the QPR defender when the teams played at Loftus Road last October.

Mr Terry could face a £2,500 fine, the maximum sentence, if found guilty.

Chelsea captain Mr Terry was allowed out of the dock into the well of the court to view footage of the alleged insult.

The court heard that Mr Terry maintains he was only sarcastically repeating words that Mr Ferdinand wrongly thought he had used, during the match which was broadcast to millions of people.

Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle is hearing the case, with no jury as it has not been referred to a Crown court.

The trial is set to last five days.

(H/GK)


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