The FA have found Chelsea captain John Terry guilty of using abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards Queens Park Rangers’ Anton Ferdinand and have suspended the defender for four matches and given him a fine of £220,000.
A statement on the FA web site reads:
The decision of the Independent Regulatory Commission is as follows:
- Mr Terry be suspended from all domestic club football until such time as Chelsea’s First Team have completed four competitive matches
- Fined the sum of £220,000
The Independent Regulatory Commission will provide written reasons for its decision in due course. Mr Terry has the right to appeal the decision of the Independent Regulatory Commission to an Appeal Board. An appeal must be lodged within 14 days from receipt of the written reasons for the decision.
The penalty is suspended until after the outcome of any appeal, or the time for appealing expires, or should Mr Terry decide not to appeal. The reason for this is to ensure that the penalty does not take effect before any appeal so that Mr Terry has an effective right of appeal.
John Terry has issued his own statement in which he says:
“Mr Terry is disappointed the Commission has reached a different conclusion to the clear not guilty verdict of a court of law”
Not surprised that Terry was suspended. It seemed pretty clear that the FA was determined to do that. I am a little surprised that it is only four games. Luis Suarez was suspended for eight games last year and I expected that Terry would get the same.
Terry has the right to appeal the decision but if he doesn’t he will miss the games against Arsenal, Norwich, Spurs and Man United, which are four huge games in Chelsea’s season. Terry can still play in the Champions League games.
