Roberto Di Matteo: 'We'll go ahead with handshakes'

By Joe Fish, Reporter | 14 September 2012

Roberto Di Matteo reveals that Chelsea will go ahead with the pre-match handshakes against QPR, despite reports claiming that Anton Ferdinand was planning to snub both John Terry and Ashley Cole.

Roberto Di Matteo has revealed that Chelsea intend to go ahead with the pre-match handshakes before their clash with Queens Park Rangers this weekend.

Hoops defender Anton Ferdinand was reportedly planning to snub Chelsea pair John Terry and Ashley Cole in the pre-match ritual, due to the roles they played in last season's well-publicised race row.

Ferdinand accused Terry of racially abusing him in a Premier League fixture in October, while Cole testified for the former England captain at his court trial this summer, at which he was found not guilty.

After revealing that the England duo will be fit for the fixture at Loftus Road, Di Matteo said on the handshakes: "We'll go ahead with it, yes.

"We're going to respect the rules and the protocol that is in place from the Premier League and set a positive standard to the millions of people watching across the world."

QPR have yet to comment on the speculation regarding Ferdinand or whether they plan to participate in the pre-kickoff tradition.