Terry cleared of racial abuse charge

Chelsea captain John Terry was cleared of racially abusing an opponent during a Premier League match after one of the most high-profile trials involving a football player.

The case led to Terry being stripped of the England captaincy by the Football Association ahead of the European Championship and the departure of coach Fabio Capello who disagreed with the decision. 

But after hearing four days of evidence at a London court, chief magistrate Howard Riddle found he was not convinced that Terry had committed a racially aggravated public order offence in a confrontation with Queens Park Rangers player Anton Ferdinand during the match in October. 

The England and Chelsea defender was acquitted of calling Ferdinand a "fucking black c**t" during a Premier League game at QPR on Oct 23 last year. 


Read more: Irish Examiner

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Terry denies racist abuse

One of England's biggest soccer stars went on trial Monday, accused of hurling racist abuse at another player during a match last year.

The normally staid chambers of Westminster Magistrates' Court in London got an earful of shockingly foul language as lawyers and witnesses detailed what Chelsea captain John Terry said to Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand in the match.

A lip reader watching a video of the incident told the court what Terry said, including two extremely obscene words.

Terry did not deny directing a barrage of foul language at Ferdinand and referring to him as "black," but he denied engaging in racist abuse.

Read more: CNN

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