Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo has no regrets about supporting John Terry over the last 12 months, despite the fact he was found guilty by an independent Football Association panel of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand.
Di Matteo said he believed the evidence Terry gave to Westminster Magistrates Court - that he was only repeating offensive words he thought Ferdinand had accused him of saying. Terry was cleared of a racially-aggravated public order offence but his evidence was later described as "implausible" by the FA's independent panel who banned him for four matches and fined him £220,000.
"I do not (regret supporting him)," Di Matteo said. "I do believe the evidence he gave in the Magistrates Court is exactly what happened on the day. He was cleared of any racial abuse in the Magistrates Court and we will take that as the result of it."
He added: "There was the legal process with the Magistrates Court and there was the FA process. We accept both outcomes.
"He knows his language wasn't appropriate. He let himself down and the club down and he is being punished for it."
