ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE:OFFICERS FROM Hammersmith and Fulham police have launched a formal investigation into allegations that John Terry racially abused Anton Ferdinand during Chelsea's defeat at Queens Park Rangers.
The London Metropolitan police had spent the previous week assessing a complaint emailed by a member of the public 24 hours after the game at Loftus Road last month. TV footage of the incident has been collected and scrutinised from around 20 cameras, prompting the authorities to upgrade the complaint from an “assessment period” to a formal investigation that could yet end in criminal proceedings.
The English FA’s separate inquiry is ongoing, with both players involved having been interviewed and witness statements being collected by the body’s disciplinary and governance unit.
There had been hopes the matter would be resolved this week, ahead of the announcement on Sunday of the England squad for friendlies against Spain and Sweden. Those aspirations appear to have been dashed, with the issue likely to be hanging over Terry if he captains the national side for the games at Wembley.
There had been no suggestion the 30-year-old would be omitted from the England squad as a result of the FA inquiry, and there is nothing to prevent him from being picked now the police have launched their inquiry.
The FA seemed to confirm last night that it would not rule on the matter without knowing whether the police intend to bring charges against the defender. It said: “The Metropolitan police has contacted the FA to make us further aware of their investigation into the matter. Due to this it would be inappropriate for the FA to comment until the police have completed their own inquiries.”
The Met are not working to any set timeframe and are likely to seek their own interviews with those involved.
Terry, who started against Genk on the bench, admitted using offensive words, but claims he had shouted them as a denial having been under the impression that Ferdinand had accused him of making a racist remark.
Ferdinand broke his public silence on the matter this week saying he had “very strong feelings” on the issue and was confident the FA would undertake a “very thorough inquiry” into the matter. He has submitted his written testimony to the disciplinary and governance unit.
The QPR player was targeted with racist abuse on Twitter yesterday following the release of his statement, while Chelsea fans at Genk chanted “Anton Ferdinand, you know what you are”.
Guardian Service
