John Terry charged with racial abuse
By Ian Dunt
The captain of the England football team will be charged with racially abusing an opponent, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed today.
John Terry will appear before west London magistrates court on February 1st, after a comment he made to Queens Park Rangers player Anton Ferdinand during a match last October.
"After careful consideration of all the evidence, I am satisfied there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest to prosecute this case," said Alison Saunders, chief crown prosecutor for London.]
The footballer, who is also captain for Chelsea, said he was "disappointed" and would fight "tooth and nail" to clear his name.
Mr Terry is being charged with a racially aggravated breach of section 31 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, which outlaws "threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour… within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress".
He denies any wrongdoing.
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