Premier League won't scrap pre-match handshakes

Premier League chairman Richard Scuadmore has insisted that pre-match handshakes will not be scrapped.

The tradition has been at the centre of debate in recent times following Luis Suarez's decision to snub the hand of Patrice Evra before Liverpool's match with Manchester United in February.

It was even cancelled for Chelsea's trip to Loftus Road amid rumours that the Queens Park Rangers players were going to refuse John Terry's handshake, after he allegedly racially abused Hoops defender Anton Ferdinand.

While the ritual was scrapped that day, Scudamore is confident that it will continue to be a part of the modern game.

"It's not a handshake that says everybody loves everybody else," he said.

"It's a handshake that says 'whatever crap's gone on before now and whatever crap will go on after this game is over, for the next 90 minutes, let's just play a game of football'.

"It's nothing more symbolic than that, which is why in our view, they should continue - period."

Chelsea and QPR meet in the league at Stamford Bridge on April 29, where they are expected to shake hands.