Court kicks around a volley of expletives as Terry trial starts

John Terry arrives at court yesterday for the start of his trial for alleged racial abuse of Anton Ferdinand (AP)

Footballer John Terry was goaded about an alleged affair before throwing a racist insult at Anton Ferdinand, a court heard yesterday.

Chelsea and England defender Terry, 31, is accused of calling Ferdinand a "f****** black c***" during a Premier League match last year. He was in the dock at Westminster magistrate's court accused of racially abusing the Queen's Park Rangers player.

The case stemmed from a disputed penalty claim that led the pair to trade insults in the closing minutes of the match in October. Mr Ferdinand pursued the Chelsea player making an arm gesture and "shouting his head off" about Mr Terry's alleged affair with the partner of former Chelsea team-mate, Wayne Bridge, the court heard.

The court was then showed footage of the incident in which Mr Terry appears to swear repeatedly at Mr Ferdinand and racially abuse him.

Mr Terry does not deny using the series of expletives but claims that it was a "sarcastic exclamation" to deny that he had racially abused Mr Ferdinand earlier. He denies the racially aggravated public order offence.

The court heard that "industrial language" was part-and-parcel of the football field. "If someone calls you a c*** that's fine," Mr Ferdinand said. "If someone puts colour into it, it takes it to a new level. That's very hurtful."

Mr Ferdinand said he did not learn of the words allegedly said by Mr Terry until he saw footage sent to his girlfriend's mobile phone after the game.

The case continues.