JOHN TERRY AND Anton Ferdinand are due to shake hands prior to their FA Cup fourth round meeting this Saturday.
The defenders have not encountered one another on the pitch since Chelsea’s ill-tempered defeat to QPR at Loftus Road in October.
During that game Terry is alleged to have racially abused Ferdinand and will face criminal trial on the charge next week.
With such a serious allegation being made by the QPR defender it is unclear whether he would feel comfortable shaking the hand of the man he accused. The Daily Mail reports that the Chelsea captain will offer his hand during the pre-match procedure, but it is unclear whether he will be left grasping thin air again.
The paper also suggests that meetings will take place later this week between QPR and Ferdinand. The former Sunderland and West Ham defender may be coerced into fulfilling the public display of respect. A joint statement is expected to be issued by QPR and Chelsea later this week appealing for calm ahead of the Loftus Road cup tie.
In 2010 Terry was at the centre of another pre-match handshake storm when, former team mate, Wayne Bridge refused to shake his hand due to a fling the Chelsea captain had with Bridge’s ex-girlfriend, Vanessa Peroncel.
