John Terry banned for four matches over racially abusing Anton Ferdinand after FA finds him guilty of racial abuse

Former England football captain John Terry has been banned for four matches after the Football Association has found him guilty of racial abuse.
The 31-year-old Chelsea captain had denied an FA charge that he racially abused Anton Ferdinand in a Premier League match last October. He was acquitted in a criminal case in July.
But following an FA independent regulatory commission hearing, he has now been banned for four matches and given a £220,000 fine for using insulting words which included a reference to Anton Ferdinand's colour or race.
The verdict comes just days after Terry sensationally retired from international football and his position as England captain.

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Terry retired just hours before the FA hearing was expected to begin. He claimed the FA made his position ‘untenable’ over the well-known incident and that the decision 'breaks my heart'.
After four days hearing evidence, from Terry, Ferdinand and other witnesses, the independent panel handed down their verdict this afternoon.
The fine he has been forced to pay is the equivalent of the footballer working less than 8 days based on his current £150,000-a-week deal at Chelsea.



A statement from the FA said: 'An Independent Regulatory Commission has today found a charge of misconduct against John Terry proven and has issued a suspension for a period of four matches and a fine of £220,000, pending appeal.
'The Football Association charged Mr Terry on Friday 27th July, 2012, with using abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards Queens Park Rangers' Anton Ferdinand and which included a reference to colour and/or race contrary to FA Rule E3[2] in relation to the Queens Park Rangers FC versus Chelsea FC fixture at Loftus Road on October 23rd, 2011.
'The charge was the result of The FA's long-standing investigation into this matter, which was placed on hold at the request of the Crown Prosecution Service and Mr Terry's representatives pending the outcome of the criminal trial.

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