QPR players are considering a snub to John Terry by all
refusing to shake his hand ahead of today’s FA Cup
tie.
The squad are understood to have spoken among themselves and
will take a final decision today as to whether to go forward with
the gesture of support for Anton Ferdinand, following the race-row
clash between the pair in October.
Ferdinand, upset after receiving hate-mail said to contain gun
ammunition yesterday, has told boss Mark Hughes that he wants to
play against Chelsea in the noon kick-off at Loftus Road and has
the full support of his colleagues.
And despite calls from Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas for
Ferdinand to offer his hand, Ferdinand is determined to stand his
ground.
The discussion among his teammates came on a day when the
suspicious package - and subsequent abuse on his Facebook page -
left Ferdinand upset.
PFA deputy chief executive Bobby Barnes said: “This takes the
beautiful game to a very ugly place.
“I can’t say I’m suprised but I’m still disappointed that this
is happening in this day and age.
“This is the sort of thing black players had to put up with
years ago but I thought those days had long gone.
“No true Chelsea fan or football fan would condone this sort of
behaviour. This is the sort of incident where racists believe they
can express their feelings.
“I don’t feel they can and should be grouped with true Chelsea
or football supporters.”
QPR manager Hughes said that “It’s a personal decision” for
Ferdinand but Villas-Boas put the onus on Ferdinand to accept
Terry’s handshake offer.
Ferdinand and Terry are set to come face to face for the first
time since the October 23 match which resulted in the Chelsea
skipper facing charges of racially insulting the QPR defender.
Terry is due to be arraigned at West London Magistrates on
Wednesday.
