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28 March 2024

Terry reignites racism row at UEFA ceremony

Chelsea players Petr Cech, John Terry and Frank Lampard shake hands with UEFA President, Michel Platini during the UEFA Champions League handover ceremony at Banqueting House, Whitehall on April 19, 2013 in London, England. (GETTY)

Published
By AFP

John Terry has admitted he snubbed Football Association chairman David Bernstein's attempt to shake hands during the official Champions League trophy handover on Friday.

Terry ignored Bernstein in a show of contempt for the man who stripped the Chelsea defender of the England captaincy after he was accused of racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand during a match last season.

Bernstein's decision provoked then England coach Fabio Capello to resign in protest.

Terry is also unhappy with the FA chairman's comments about him during the court case into the racism claims.

Terry was cleared of racist abuse in court, but was later banned for four matches by the FA for the same offence.

Asked by Sky Sports News if he shook Bernstein's hand during the ceremony to return the European trophy Chelsea won last season, Terry replied: "No. Listen, it's a difficult one for me.

"Obviously he was the one who spoke about me in the court case and said things. I don't want to talk on air. It's probably a subject that we should maybe just avoid."

Bernstein advised Terry he had been removed as captain during a phone call after it had been confirmed the Chelsea defender would stand trial in July last year.

And in September, just before his FA disciplinary hearing started, Terry quit international football and accused the FA of making his position "untenable".

Bernstein, who shook hands with several other Blues players including Fernando Torres, Petr Cech and Branislav Ivanovic in the Banqueting House on Whitehall, insisted he was unaware of the Chelsea captain's snub.

"I didn't notice anything," said Bernstein, who will stand down from his role with the FA in July.

"My relationships with everyone here are really fantastic. I didn't notice a thing and I think we should talk about more positive things than that sort of nonsense."

Asked about Terry's obvious dislike for him, Bernstein admitted they were "a little distant".

"I'm not really terribly concerned," he added.

"I have other things to think about. In my last three months, I have other priorities."

It is not the first time Terry has been involved in a handshake controversy.

In February 2010, Manchester City defender Wayne Bridge refused to shake Terry's hand before a Premier League match at Stamford Bridge in response to reports that his ex-partner had an affair with Terry.

Then in September 2012, QPR star Ferdinand opted not to shake hands with Terry and Ashley Cole, who spoke on behalf of his Chelsea teammate during the court hearing into the racism charges.