JOHN Terry has been found not guilty of racially abusing rival footballer Anton Ferdinand today. Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle delivered the verdict to a packed courtroom at the end of the England star's week-long trial at Westminster Magistrates' Court.
The Chelsea captain, 31, was accused of calling the QPR centre-half a �f****** black c***� during a Premier League match on October 23 last year.
He claimed he was sarcastically repeating a slur that Ferdinand mistakenly thought he had used, and denied a racially aggravated public order offence.
Explaining his verdict, Mr Riddle said the prosecution presented a strong case.
He said: �It is a crucial fact that nobody has given evidence that they heard what Mr Terry said or more importantly how he said it.
�He has given effectively the same account throughout. Insofar as there are discrepancies in his account, they are understandable and natural.
�He says that he was himself wrongly accused by Mr Ferdinand on the pitch of calling him a black c***.
�He has maintained that from the beginning.�
Mr Riddle said the case was not about �whether Mr Terry is a racist in the broadest sense of the word�.
He said he had heard a great deal of evidence to show that he is not. He added: �It is understandable why Mr Terry wants to make this point, his reputation is at stake."
Dan Morrison, Terry�s lawyer, said outside court: �The court has today acquitted John Terry of all charges.
�He has consistently explained his position to the FA, the police and to the court.
�He did not racially abuse Mr Ferdinand and the court has accepted this.
�John would like to thank his legal team for their hard work and his family, friends and Chelsea Football Club for their support.�
There were cheers from Terry's supporters in the public gallery as the verdict was read out.Relieved Terry left the dock immediately and walked out of the packed courtroom.
Minutes later he headed straight through a crowd of photographers and reporters to a waiting cab without saying a word.
It is thought he will fly off on holiday with his family before joining Chelsea teammates for pre-season training.
Dozens of fans and well-wishers had gathered outside the court building to support the player including one middle-aged lady who was seen clutching a bottle of pink champagne.
The Crown Prosecution Service defended the decision to prosecute the former England captain.
Alison Saunders, Chief Crown Prosecutor for London, said: �The very serious allegation at the heart of this case was one of racial abuse.�It was our view that this was not �banter� on the football pitch and that the allegation should be judged by a court.
�The Chief Magistrate agreed that Mr Terry had a case to answer, but having heard all of the evidence he acquitted Mr Terry of a racially aggravated offence.
�That is justice being done and we respect the Chief Magistrate�s decision.� Terry was alleged to have abused Ferdinand during the ill-tempered match last October. The alleged racist outburst was said to have been picked up by television cameras.
Ferdinand had said the pair had traded insults in the match which Chelsea were losing 1-0.
Terry had described himself as "angry and upset" at suggestions he might be racist.
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