Terry denies he is a racist

Chelsea captain John Terry has refuted claims that he is in any way racist as the trial over whether or not he racially abused QPR defender Anton Ferdinand continues.

The 31-year-old is being tried over comments he is alleged to have made last October during the Blues’ 1-0 defeat at Loftus Road, though Terry denies the racially-aggravated public order offence.

The court heard an interview which was recorded a week after the match, between the former England skipper and FA investigator Jennifer Kennedy, on Tuesday.

“I have been called a lot of things in my football career on and off the pitch, but being called a racist I am not prepared to take,” Terry had said on tape.

“That’s why I came out and made my statement immediately.

“I am not having Anton thinking that about me or anyone else. That’s not my character at all.”

The decision to prosecute Terry came about because the police received a complaint from a member of the public after the west London derby match.

Ferdinand has told the court he had not originally believed Terry had said anything racially abusive, but that his girlfriend showed him a video uploaded onto YouTube of the Chelsea defender mid-game which changed his mind.

Terry denies any guilt of the summary offence, but if convicted would face a maximum punishment of a 2,500 pounds fine.

The trial continues.