Terry-Ferdinand handshake issue set to rumble on

QPR and Chelsea would need to seek permission if they want to cancel the pre-match handshake when the sides next meet in April, the Premier League confirmed yesterday.

Anton Ferdinand was spared having to shake John Terry’s hand in Saturday’s FA Cup clash at Loftus Road – which Chelsea won 1-0 – after the Football Association gave their blessing to a request for the entire ritual to be abandoned.

QPR manager Mark Hughes admitted the FA may have been contacted by both clubs after some of his players indicated they would join Ferdinand in snubbing Terry.

Ferdinand reportedly spent the week agonising over whether to accept the hand of Terry, who is charged with racially abusing his fellow defender during October’s league game. Terry is expected to instruct his legal team to enter a not-guilty plea when the court case into the matter begins on Wednesday. A trial date will then be set, meaning the matter could remain unresolved until after Chelsea host QPR in the league a fortnight before the end of the season.

A Premier League spokesman said yesterday that both clubs would need to seek approval for the handshake to be cancelled again.

Meanwhile, the FA are unlikely to punish QPR after a spectator threw the match ball at the back of Ashley Cole. Referee Mike Dean may include it in his official report but it is doubtful QPR will be sanctioned.