John Terry trial to begin
Chelsea and England defender John Terry is due to stand trial later accused of racially abusing QPR’s Anton Ferdinand.
The case relates to a comment allegedly made to Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand when the teams played last October.
The 31-year-old is charged with a racially-aggravated public order offence, for which the maximum sentence is a £2,500 fine.
The Chelsea skipper’s trial takes place at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
Police questioned Mr Terry under caution in November 2011 and a file on the matter was sent to the Crown Prosecution Service at the beginning of December.
The decision to investigate the former England captain was taken when police received a complaint from a member of the public after the Premier League match at Loftus Road.
As a summary offence under the Crime and Disorder Act, it will be fully heard in a magistrates’ court.
Mr Terry, whose Chelsea team won the Champions League and the FA Cup in May, was part of the England side that reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2012 last month.
