Former Chelsea manager Avram Grant has insisted that John Terry is not a racist and has questioned the motives behind the Football Association's decision to charge the former England captain.
Terry is this week hearing a charge of using "abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour" towards Anton Ferdinand before an FA disciplinary panel.
Grant thinks that the FA cares more about the message they are sending out in response to racism than the charges against the Blues skipper.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Nobody thinks that John Terry is a racist so the FA need to leave it.
"One thing I must say about JT is that he's not a racist, that's for sure. He's a good man.
"I think the message was clear and I don't think they need to charge him. For the FA, the more important thing is the message that it will not have racism in sport."
The 31-year-old retired from international duty on Sunday night, stating that the FA's decision to pursue the charges against him left his position in the national team untenable.
Liam Power
