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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Time out for Terry

John Terry was removed as England’s captain on Friday while awaiting trial for racial abuse, but he will remain eligible to play for the national team at the European Championships. 

Terry, a Chelsea defender, is the first top soccer player in England to be charged with such a racially aggravated public order offense during a Premier League match in October.

[ via The New York Times ]

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