26 Jan 2012

Chelsea and QPR ask fans to keep cool

8:30 am on 26 January 2012

London rivals Queen's Park Rangers and Chelsea have warned fans to behave at this weekend's FA Cup tie when England captain John Terry will come face to face with Anton Ferdinand, the player he is accused of racially abusing in a Premier League match this season.

Terry, who denies any wrongdoing, is due to appear in court on February the 1st after a police investigation into Ferdinand's claims and there are fears that Sunday's match could inflame tension between fans of both clubs.

A statement from QPR chairman Tony Fernandes and his Chelsea counterpart Bruce Buck issued today says discriminatory chanting at the fourth round tie at Loftus Road will not be tolerated.

A Chelsea fan was arrested on the way back from watching his side's Premier League match at Norwich City last weekend after it was alleged he made racist comments about Ferdinand on a train.

Chelsea were also forced to condemn some of their fans in November when they chanted 'Anton Ferdinand, you know what you are' during a Champions League match in Genk.