Terry 'not prepared' to be called a racist
Reuters - Tuesday 10 July 2012, 19:49
Former England captain
John Terry has said he is not prepared to be called a racist as
his trial for allegedly racially abusing Queen's Park Rangers
defender Anton Ferdinand continued on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old Chelsea defender told the Football
Association (FA) a week after the incident on October 23 last year
that racism was not in his character. A recording of the
interview was played on Tuesday at Westminster Magistrates'
Court.
"I have been called a lot of things in my football career
but being called a racist, I am not prepared to take," Terry,
who was listening to the recording in court, said in the
interview.
"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."
Terry told FA investigator Jennifer Kennedy he was repeating
back to Ferdinand what he believed had been said to him.
The high-profile case, based on foul language from both
players, triggered the resignation of England's Italian manager
Fabio Capello after the FA decided to strip Terry of the
captain's armband for Euro 2012.
The case was adjourned until Wednesday.