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Interview: Football

Ancelotti slams John Terry ban

Former England football captain John Terry's four-match ban and €276,000 fine for misconduct is '”strange” and “unbelievable”,ex-Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has told RFI.

Reuters/Benoit Tessier
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Despite being cleared in a criminal court in the United Kingdom of racially abusing Queens Park Rangers' Anton Ferdinand in a Premier League match last season, the English Football Association found Terry guilty of using “abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour, which included a reference to ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race”.

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Interview - Carlo Ancelotti

Andy May

"It is unbelievable - John Terry does not deserve this,” Ancelotti said. “The judgement one month ago [in court] was okay so I cannot understand how the FA can make a different decision. I think that it is really strange.

"I was really surprised [with this whole situation] because he has a really fantastic relationship with everyone. I am sure he is not racist – 100 per cent."

Terry’s ban is half the length of the eight-match suspension handed to Luis Suarez last year. The Liverpool striker was also fined €50,000 after being found to have repeatedly used the word “negro” towards Manchester United's Patrice Evra in a game.

Terry, who has always maintained his innocence, has decided to retire from international football with England - a choice Ancelotti believes is the right one:

"I do not think he will play for England again and I think that is a good decision. It is a bad thing for England because John Terry did well for the national team."

Ancelotti has also spoken to RFI about rumours another one of his former Chelsea players, Ashley Cole, is set to join him at Paris St Germain next summer when his contract in London expires.

"This is normal because a lot of players are linked with PSG, maybe 100 players have been linked with the club recently,” he said. “For this season we have a very good squad but for next year I am not sure.

"I believe Ashley Cole is the best left back in world football at the moment."

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