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John Terry cleared of racism against Anton Ferdinand | John Terry cleared of racism against Anton Ferdinand |
(40 minutes later) | |
Ex-England captain John Terry has been cleared of racially abusing fellow footballer Anton Ferdinand. | Ex-England captain John Terry has been cleared of racially abusing fellow footballer Anton Ferdinand. |
The Chelsea and England defender had denied making the comments to the Queens Park Rangers player during a match at Loftus Road last October. | |
The 31-year-old told Westminster Magistrates' Court he was merely repeating what he thought Mr Ferdinand had said to him as they traded insults. | |
Mr Terry had described himself as "angry and upset" over the claims. | Mr Terry had described himself as "angry and upset" over the claims. |
It was alleged he had insulted Mr Ferdinand in a Premier League match, describing him as "black" and using extreme sexual swear words. | |
Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle said he had heard a great deal of evidence to show Mr Terry was not a racist. | |
In his written judgement, he said that after weighing the evidence it was "highly unlikely" that Mr Terry abused Mr Ferdinand in the manner he was accused of. | |
Mr Riddle went on: "The prosecution evidence as to what was said by Mr Ferdinand at this point is not strong. | |
"It is therefore possible that what he [Mr Terry] said was not intended as an insult, but rather as a challenge to what he believed had been said to him. | |
"In those circumstances, there being a doubt, the only verdict the court can record is one of not guilty." | |
Cheers from supporters | |
Mr Terry did not deny using the word "black" and swearing at Mr Ferdinand. | |
His defence was that he had thought Mr Ferdinand was accusing him of using the words, and was simply repeating them when he was caught on camera. | |
He was backed in court by Chelsea team mate Ashley Cole. | |
There were cheers in court from Mr Terry's supporters as he was cleared. | |
He did not comment to the waiting media as he left court. | |
But a spokesman for Mr Terry's legal team said: "The court has today acquitted John Terry of all charges. | |
"He did not racially abuse Anton Ferdinand, and the court has accepted this." | |
Mr Riddle said Mr Ferdinand was brave to give evidence, calling him a "believable witness". | |
He explained that it was not for him to decide whether Mr Terry was a racist, and that his only role was to ascertain whether the offence was carried out. | |
Alison Saunders, Chief Crown Prosecutor for London, defended the decision to bring the case to trial. | |
She said: "The very serious allegation at the heart of this case was one of racial abuse. | |
"It was our view that this was not banter on the football pitch and that the allegation should be judged by a court." | |
Of the subsequent acquittal, she added: "That is justice being done and we respect the chief magistrate's decision." |