Premier League - Terry to face trial after Euro 2012
Chelsea and England captain John Terry will go on trial in July after he pleaded not guilty to racially abusing QPR's Anton Ferdinand during a Premier League match in October.
The trial, which could last up to five days, will take place after the Euro 2012 tournament when Terry is expected to line up at the heart of England's defence alongside Ferdinand's brother, Rio.
Terry did not attend Wednesday's hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court in central London.
"Now that the court has fixed a date for trial, Mr Terry looks forward to the opportunity to clear his name," the player's legal firm Grosvenor Law LLP said in a statement.
"Mr Terry has consistently and resolutely maintained that his well publicised remarks were made in the belief that he was being accused of racist abuse by Mr Ferdinand," it added.
"Mr Terry was shocked and disgusted by that accusation at the time. Mr Terry denies making any racist statement and will establish in court that he is not guilty of any such offence. Mr Terry has never racially abused another player in his entire career."
In December, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) ordered Terry to be prosecuted for a "racially aggravated public order offence" over comments allegedly made to Anton Ferdinand in an on-field exchange during Chelsea's 1-0 defeat by Queens Park Rangers.
The CPS took action after video of the incident was posted on the internet and a member of the public complained that Terry had used allegedly racist language when speaking to Ferdinand.
Terry could be fined up to £2,500 if convicted, only a fraction of his weekly wage. However, such a verdict could have an impact on his lucrative sponsorship deals and relationship with Chelsea team mates drawn from around the globe.
Allegations of racial abuse have cast a shadow over the Premier League this season. Liverpool's Luis Suarez was banned for eight matches for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra during a match in October in a case dealt with by the football authorities.
Chelsea Football Club has stood by Terry, who as the long-serving club captain is revered by the Blues fans for his commitment and passion on the pitch.
Terry missed Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Swansea on the eve of the court case with a knee injury. Coach Andre Villas-Boas said on Monday he would consider giving Terry time away from his football commitments to clear his name if it was needed.
Comment 347 - 366 of 366
In normal life, Terry's case would have been cut and dried by now, so why is the trial taking so long to start? Media pressure? Lawyers making a mint as usual? FA trying to keep Terry free for Euro 2102? It all stinks and again shows that there's one rule for footballers and one for the rest of us!
This case is just state terrorism, it is a show trial designed to frighten the public into obedience. It is nothing to do with the words Terry is accused of sayings, its about expressing the"wrong views" on immigration, multiculturalism etc. The Stasi, or the "Government" if you prefer, know the average member of the public are not able to determine what is "racism" and what is legitimate comment, so they will remain silent and compliant.
It's the way the Soviet Union and also Hitler's Germany operated
Maybe rios brother dealind dem god dam drugs man
Ben 365. Suarez didn't get "done by the coppers" because nobody actually went to them and made a formal complaint like they did with Terry. Looks like Merseyside police showed a bit of common sense and didn't go seeking out a prosecution, or if they nobody was actually willing to go to court with it. Should have been dealt with by a smack in the mouth afterwards and forgotten about, and not whinging & whining to the boss. Can't see Tommy Smith ever crying to Shankly about anything.
Mufc fan.
Lock it up. With any luck it might top himself.
John Terry going to trial, what an absolute waste of money, would it be the same if it was a white man who complained about being verbally abused? Get the pair of them together shake hands and move on, after all nobody got murdered or attacked. Won't be long before the British equivilant of the KGB move in.
I want to know what makes this case different to the Evra, Suarez indecent why didn't Suarez get done by the coppers as well?
Hochi, forget about Britain ever becoming a 'white only' country again. the reality is that british born non-whites are here to stay just like the white south africans who are born and live in africa. all you do is moan and complain. there is no need for racial name-calling on the pitch, like i said, if the black players can last a whole 90mins without racially abusing the white players then why cant the likes of john terry do the same...keep racial opions at home and just get on with the game!
And people wonder why the EDL is getting more popular.
359: Antony.
Fee-fi-fo-fum I smell the blood of Nazi scum.
How convenient. If that was Jo Public it would be dealt with straight away. He is no different.
What a slug, pass the salt.
This racist rubbish is getting way out of hand, there are people being murdered and kids being neaten and worse and all that our police and so called justice system are bothered about is maybe a BLACK man got an earful at a football match, Being a white Britain has now become a crime its pathetic
in my mind our country is ready for a big shake up and about time, anton ferdinand should go to where his family came from!!!!!!!!! he,s not a brit when i was born you did,nt get done for calling a dog black like i did!, BA BA BLACK SHEEP
325 - It's a wump of wood, everyone knows that!
Sticks and stones comes to mind,Whats this country comeing to.!!
And didn't Rio Ferdinand keep his club arm band even though he'd been taking the drugs. Same drugs that were sold to kids by the dealer he bought them from?
Same drugs that kill kids???
What a society that cares more about a supposed racial name calling than kids being killed by drugs...
And for the thick posters on here, you don't go to jail for a racial slur. 1,500 GBP max fine....
Dumber than dumb.
Sections of the media have been calling for him to resign as England Captain the moment the arm band was given to him.
If you look around the social media networks the suppport for him grows.
Terry no longer stands for Chelsea and club loyalty but he now faces the PC lefties on behalf of all free people. His case has become everyones case, a case that if he loses will see a man prosecuted for racism merely for talking to himself. Ferdinand has dated the media as the victim while confessing he heard Nothing. On this merit a man maybe prosecuted for mumbling while alone in his own home but being seen through the window by a lip reader.... this is the true merit of this case. If Terry loses this case non of you will be safe again.
Forget club loyalty, this goes way beyond that.
The hate of journalists has become the new judge, jury and executioner, they have decided who will be hounded to court and beyond.
Thank the media for this and stop buying their newspapers. Get you news online for free.
In this counrty everyone has the right to be "Innocent until proven guilty" however, only the rich and high profiled are able to use the right at their own convenience. Even the judicial system along with the FA are full of Shyte. Although we should not judge before we know the facts. But is it so hard to find another England captian until the case has been tried but what makes John Terry so indespensible?
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