THE FA HAVE agree to Chelsea and QPR’s request to cancel the traditional pre-game handshakes for this afternoon’s match.
A short statement from the association’s official website released today read:
“Following discussions on Friday evening and Saturday morning involving senior officials from QPR, Chelsea and The FA, it has been agreed there will not be the usual team handshake before today’s FA Cup with Budweiser Fourth Round Proper tie at Loftus Road.
“The FA agreed to the request by both clubs in an attempt to further diffuse tensions before the match.”
The tension between the two clubs has been well-documented, after QPR defender Anton Ferdinand claimed he was racially abused by Chelsea captain John Terry in a game earlier this season.
Speculation was rife as to whether or not Ferdinand would agree to shake Terry’s hand, but with the issue still not resolved, the FA have opted to take that decision out of his hands.
The QPR defender also recently received death threats, in addition to revealing that he spends €35,000 on personal security.
Terry is currently being investigated by both the FA and the police following the claims.
