John Terry said: “I want to take this opportunity to apologise to everyone for the language I used in the game.”

John Terry has issued an apology after deciding not to appeal against his four-match ban for racially abusing QPR’s Anton Ferdinand

The 31-year-old defender added: “Although I’m disappointed with the FA judgment, I accept that the language I used, regardless of the context, is not acceptable on the football field or indeed in any walk of life.

“As I stated in the criminal case, with the benefit of hindsight my language was clearly not an appropriate reaction to the situation for someone in my position. My response was below the level expected by Chelsea Football Club, and by me, and it will not happen again.”