Suarez banned 8 matches for abusing Evra LONDON — England captain John Terry will face a criminal charge over allegations that he racially abused an opponent in the Premier League. Britain's Crown Prosecution Service said Wednesday that there is sufficient evidence to prosecute the Chelsea defender for his on-field exchange with Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand on Oct. 23. “I have today advised the Metropolitan Police Service that John Terry should be prosecuted for a racially aggravated public order offense following comments allegedly made during a Premier League football match between Queen's Park Rangers and Chelsea,” said Alison Saunders, the Chief Crown Prosecutor for London. The CPS said Terry will appear before West London Magistrates' Court on Feb. 1. The 31-year-old Terry has publicly refuted the allegations that he racially abused Ferdinand, who is black. Police assessed the incident after a complaint by a member of the public last week and passed its evidence to the CPS for consideration on Dec. 1. “I am disappointed with the decision to charge me and hope to be given the chance to clear my name as quickly as possible,” Terry said in a statement reported by British media. “I have never aimed a racist remark at anyone and count people from all races and creeds among my closest friends. “I will fight tooth and nail to prove my innocence. “I have campaigned against racism and believe there is no place for it in society,” he added. Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, meanwhile, has been banned for eight matches and fined 40,000 pounds ($62,800) for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra during a Premier League match at Anfield in October, the FA said Tuesday. Uruguay international Suarez was found guilty of misconduct after using “insulting words” toward Evra during the game on Oct. 15, including a reference to the France defender's color. The ban is suspended pending the outcome of any appeal lodged by Suarez after an FA Independent Regulatory Commission “found a charge of misconduct against Luis Suarez proven”. The FA announced the decision against Suarez, who has repeatedly denied the allegations, on its website after a hearing that began on Dec. 14 at an undisclosed location in north-west England. The commission said: “Mr. Suarez used insulting words toward Mr. Evra during the match contrary to FA Rule E3(1). The insulting words used by Mr. Suarez included a reference to Mr. Evra's color within the meaning of Rule E3(2).” Evra also made the allegations against 24-year-old Suarez in an interview with Canal Plus, telling the French TV station the Uruguayan had used a racist insult to him “at least 10 times”. Evra said: “There are cameras. You can see him (Suarez) say a certain word to me at least 10 times.”
