Chelsea won’t let stars wear JT top

Posted Saturday, December 24, 2011 by The Sun

CHELSEA have snubbed captain John Terry by crushing his hopes of a public show of support from team-mates.

The Blues skipper was keen on Chelsea players wearing T-shirts to show they back him after he was charged by the Crown Prosecution Service for allegedly racially abusing QPR's Anton Ferdinand.

Terry believed senior players were happy to get behind him and the idea was discussed among team-mates and backroom staff.

But the club's hierachy instantly shot down the idea and were concerned such a move would backfire badly, just like Liverpool's widely-condemned show of support for striker Luis Suarez at Wigan.

Kop chiefs were slammed for allowing their stars to wear pro-Suarez T-shirts at the DW Stadium as they warmed up ahead of Wednesday's 0-0 draw.

The Reds' public show of solidarity came after the Uruguayan was banned for eight games by the FA for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.

In the wake of that, Blues bosses were adamant they did not want their stars doing anything that could be seen as provocative or construed as a potential contempt of court ahead of Terry's hearing at West London magistrates court on February 1.

A Chelsea spokesman said: "We were aware of the idea being discussed among some of the players and staff.

"The club fully supports John but did not think the wearing of T-shirts was an appropriate or helpful show of that support."