John Terry race row could undermine England

AS THE FA launches an inquiry into allegations that England captain John Terry racially abused an opponent, the pressure is growing on the Chelsea defender as the row threatens to engulf the national team.

Footage of Terry shouting insults at QPR defender Anton Ferdinand emerged soon after Sunday's match, but the Chelsea skipper immediately rejected claims of racism. He admitted saying the words "fucking black cunt" but said he was only rejecting an allegation that he had used the insult earlier.

However, QPR have asked the FA to investigate and a complaint has also been made to the police.

England connection

The row is not just between Terry and Anton Ferdinand. There is a wider issue as Anton is the brother of Terry's England team mate Rio Ferdinand and according to The Daily Mail he is "not cool" with the situation.

The paper reports: "Both brothers have refused to take Terry's calls, further underlining the fact that - contrary to Terry's claim - Anton Ferdinand does not consider the matter to be 'finished'."

Could it be the end?

Terry is safe in the short term. Matt Hughes in The Times notes that "[England manager] Fabio Capello plans to spare himself the distraction of division in the England dressing room by omitting Rio Ferdinand from his squad next month".

But there could be long-term repurcussions. Matt Lawton in the Mail says the "row is in danger of fracturing the England dressing room and presenting Fabio Capello with yet another major problem ahead of the  European Championship... if Terry is charged with racially abusing Anton Ferdinand he will be looking for a new captain, possibly even a new centre half".

The FA has an impossible task

With claim, counter claim and even a complaint to the police from a member of the public to deal with "those in the [FA] commission may wonder whether they have been sold yet another hospital pass", says Dominic Fifield in The Guardian.

But their task is an onerous one says Sam Wallace of The Independent. He says: "The FA disciplinary and control department has already embarked on what is arguably the most sensitive and potentially difficult case the governing body has faced in recent times."

But what about Terry?

This is by no means the first time Terry has been forced to protest his innocence after being caught up in a media storm. And Matthew Syed in the Times says: "There are really only two possible views to have of Terry. One is that he is the most misunderstood man in Britain, someone who has endured an astonishing run of bad luck and misinterpretation. The other is that he is an odious and reprehensible chancer who should never have been appointed (or reappointed) to the England captaincy." ·