England football captain John Terry will not face trial for allegedly racially abusing Anton Ferdinand until after the Euro 2012 championships.
The Chelsea defender did not attend the first hearing in the case at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, but his barrister, George Carter-Stephenson QC, entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.
Terry, 31, is accused of a racially aggravated public order offence over video footage which appears to show him shout an offensive comment at Queens Park Rangers defender Ferdinand during a Premier League match in October.
District Judge Howard Riddle ordered that he should stand trial in the week beginning July 9 after hearing that a number of other Chelsea players would not be able to appear as witnesses until the end of the football season.
The public gallery of Court 1 in the modern court building was packed with journalists for the hour-long hearing, which covered the timing of the trial and arrangements for witnesses.
Mr Carter-Stephenson handed the district judge a letter from Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay, who appealed for the trial to be delayed until after his players' domestic and international footballing commitments are over for the season.
The final of Euro 2012, which is being hosted by Poland and Ukraine, takes place on July 1.
Terry, who faces a maximum fine of £2,500 if convicted, has repeatedly denied making the alleged slur during the game at Loftus Road on October 23 last year.
The footballer's solicitors, Grosvenor Law, said in a statement after the hearing: "Now that the court has fixed a date for trial, Mr Terry looks forward to the opportunity to clear his name. 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.
"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 such offence. Mr Terry has never racially abused another player in his entire career."
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i hope he gets 10 years
First of all nothing to do with the FA. This is down to the judicary delaying the case till July. Now if this is as serious a case as the CPS and Police are making out as well as the the media I can not understand why this magistrate has decided to delay proceedings. He even stated he didn't want this matter to be treated any differently to any other incident and then does this. Who cares if a few footballers are going to be inconvieneinced during the football season, get them to court and get this matter dealt with. I am really surprised the CPS agreed to this delay. I wouldn't be surprised if this is challenged and the case brought forward.
cos theyre the real racist live in england and claim benifits like all the rest of em!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Calm down and you might understand what's happening here. This is nothing to do with the FA. Terry is being prosecuted in a court of law unlike Suarez. Why do you morons bother to comment if you can't even grasp the basics.
This is typical FA decision; look at scenario involving Suarez and Terry even the blind person can see difference here! Disgusting FA...
think this is discusting..... surez is given 8 match ban pretty much straight away, while terrys episode is going on forever, what is football coming to. i am a spurs fan and go to white heart lane often and to hear rasism chants from Both sets of supporters makes my blood boil. this is irrelevent on this topic but can someone please explain why there is a different law for football and outside of football, EXAMPLE why would a football thug be put in prison for stamping on somone`s head outside the ground , while on the pitch they get a slap on the wrist and a stupid fine??? there both representing there own clubs so why should this matter??? just proves that gov and f.a are corrupt, money talks at the end of the day doesnt it?? just pisses me of that theres a rule to shoot someone on the football pitch and a different one for outside....@#$% is going on with this country.... hard to say but i get more excited watching scotland that england.. scots are much more of a countrys team, there proud and most prob do it for love of the game and passion.. england on the other hand are always going to be second best and when you have rasist thugs and bank managers playing for your country except to be poo. this from an england fan.... come on u scots
Interesting to see where English football places racism in its list of priorities.....so much for KICK IT OUT. Disgusting!
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