FA Cup

Queens Park Rangers, Chelsea release statement

By Liam Apicella, Features Editor | 25 January 2012

Queens Park Rangers owner Tony Fernandes and Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck release a joint statement ahead of the FA Cup meeting between their two clubs.

Queens Park Rangers owner Tony Fernandes and Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck have released a joint statement ahead of the FA Cup meeting between their two clubs this weekend.

When the two sides met earlier in the season, Chelsea skipper John Terry was accused of racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand.

As a result, Fernandes and Buck have made an effort to calm any ill-feeling between the two sets of supporters.

"We have discussed the issues surrounding this weekend's FA Cup fourth-round tie at Loftus Road and we are both in total agreement that abuse and discrimination has no place in football or society," read the statement.

"Both clubs enjoy fantastic support. However, we would remind fans that while we want to hear their passion, it's a fact that hatred and abuse is not what being a fan of QPR or Chelsea is about.

"The clubs will work together with the police to ensure that anyone using discriminatory or inflammatory language is identified and that the strongest possible action is taken against them."

Recent reports had suggested that Ferdinand would snub the offer of a pre-match handshake from Terry.