Chelsea captain John Terry has admitted that he used racist language while addressing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand but it was deemed 'exaggerated sarcasm', a court has heard today.
The England international arrived at Westminster Magistrates' Court today to begin the trial for allegedly racially abusing Ferdinand during a West London derby at Loftus Road last October.
The court heard that the centre-back allegedly called Ferdinand a "f**king black c***" after the QPR defender shouted an insult relating to Terry's previous high-profile extra-marital affair with a former teammate's wife.
The defence claimed that Terry's words were "uttered by way of sarcastic exclamation or enquiry in relation to a perceived accusation by Mr Ferdinand".
The trial is expected to last five days.