The Crown Prosecution Service in the UK has announced that John Terry will face criminal charges relating to an alleged racist slur aimed at the QPR defender Anton Ferdinand.

Terry, who denies wrongdoing, will appear before West London magistrates’ court on 1 February 2012, charged with a racially aggravated public order offence.

The news follows the CPS’s recent confirmation that it had received additional evidence, thought to be new video footage of the incident, which allegedly occurred during Chelsea’s defeat at Loftus Road on 23 October.

Shortly after the allegations were made, Terry issued a statement saying: “I’ve seen that there’s a lot of comments on the internet with regards to some video footage of me during the game. I’m disappointed that people have leapt to the wrong conclusions about the context of what I was seen to be saying to Anton Ferdinand. I would never say such a thing, and I’m saddened that people would think so.”

Alison Saunders, chief crown prosecutor for London said: “I have today advised the Metropolitan police service that John Terry should be prosecuted for a racially aggravated public order offence following comments allegedly made during a Premier League football match between Queen’s Park Rangers and Chelsea on 23 October 2011.
“Mr Terry will appear before West London magistrates’ court on 1 February 2012. He is now summonsed with a criminal offence and has the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that nothing should be reported which could prejudice his trial.”