Two months after facing each other in court, John Terry and Anton Ferdinand are set to meet on the football pitch as English Premier League leader Chelsea visits fierce local rival Queens Park Rangers in the weekend’s standout match.
In a case that highlighted the foul-mouthed language used in football, Terry was cleared of racially abusing Ferdinand in last season’s corresponding match between the west London clubs in October.
Terry, the Chelsea and England defender, is awaiting the outcome of an FA charge relating to the same case and all eyes will be on the traditional pre-match handshake between the teams, which was scrapped twice last season on legal advice.
The Premier League currently intends to go ahead with the pre-match ritual, although there remains the strong possibility Ferdinand may snub Terry and Chelsea defender Ashley Cole, who gave evidence on Terry’s behalf in court.
That will revive memories of the failure of Luis Suarez to shake hands with Patrice Evra in last season’s high-profile league match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Old Trafford, following a racism row between the players.
QPR and Chelsea are widely reported to be in talks about how to handle the handshake routine, which will come minutes before Chelsea attempts to make it four wins from four in the league this season.
QPR, which views its neighbour as its biggest rival, would love nothing more than to end Chelsea’s perfect run, having beaten the European champions 1-0 in October.
“This is the one everyone really wants to be involved in,” said QPR forward Jamie Mackie, whose team is next to last in the standings with just one point from three games.
“As players, you relish games like this and I know the fans will be feeling exactly the same.
“Last season’s victory was fantastic for everyone involved, but that’s the past now and it’s up to us to try and replicate that result this weekend.”
Terry and Cole missed England’s 1-1 draw with Ukraine in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday because of ankle injuries, but both are back in training.
Chelsea has a maximum nine points to be two clear of Swansea, West Bromwich and defending champion Manchester City after three rounds.
