FA under pressure to investigate Terry racism allegations
Published 22:28 01/11/11 By Martin Lipton
Police last night decided to make a formal investigation into John Terry’s alleged racial abuse of QPR’s Anton Ferdinand.
Metropolitan Police officers have spent the past week “assessing” the incident during the October 23 match at Loftus Road following a complaint from a member of the public.
Terry insists his angry retort to Ferdinand was a vehement denial that he had used racist language but the FA have already commenced their own investigation and have asked both players to submit written submissions.
Terry’s position became more parlous when the Met confirmed officers had now decided to ramp up the probe into a formal investigation.
In a statement, the force said: “Police were notified of an incident on Sunday October 23 involving alleged racial abuse. This is currently being investigated by officers from Hammersmith and Fulham.”
If the police think there is sufficient evidence then Terry could be charged with a criminal offence under the Public Order Act.
The FA is under pressure to open its own investigation ahead of Sunday’s planned naming of Fabio Capello’s England squad for the Wembley friendlies with Spain and Sweden.
But the FA is understood to to be aware of the change in the police stance. Chelsea declined to comment.
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