Chelsea star John Terry was ‘keen’ to contact police over racism claim

Chelsea captain John Terry arrives at Westminster Magistrates Court, London. Photo: John Stillwell/PA Wire

Dominic Gover Wednesday, July 11, 2012
11:58 AM

Chelsea defender John Terry said today that he was “keen” to speak to police about alleged racist abuse, a court heard.

The former England captain, 31, explained: “I knew there was nothing out there that would show that I had done anything wrong”.

The 31-year-old England and Chelsea defender is accused of calling Anton Ferdinand a “f****** black c***” during a Premier League game on October 23 last year.

He denies a racially aggravated public order offence, saying he was sarcastically repeating the slur that Ferdinand mistakenly thought he had used.

Continuing his evidence at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today, Terry said: “I knew there was nothing out there that would show that I had done anything wrong.

“I was keen to go forward with my police statement, my FA statement. If I had anything to hide I wouldn’t have done that.”

He said he made a statement before seeing any film footage of the incident.

“If there was ever any doubt in my mind, I could have held back, soaked it up and thought ‘Let’s wait until tomorrow, let’s see what kind of footage is out there.”

Earlier, prosecutor Duncan Penny put it to Terry that he had made a remark about having sex with Ferdinand’s girlfriend, in response to taunts about his alleged affair with a team-mate’s ex-partner.

Terry denied this.

Chelsea team-mate Ashley Cole was in court today to give evidence.

The trial continues.