John Terry considers legal action after image appears on cigarette packets in India

The offending packet of cigarettes (GETTY IMAGES)

John Terry is considering taking legal action after an image resembling the Chelsea and England captain appeared on cigarette packets in India.

A blurred image of a person looking extremely like Terry has appeared on the packets above a "smoking kills" warning.

A spokesman for Elite Management, which represents Terry, said no permission had been given for the use of the defender's image in promotion of an anti-smoking drive in India.

Their statement read: "It's been brought to our attention that an image of our client (Terry) has been used on some cigarette packaging without our consent or knowledge. We've now instructed our legal team to investigate this matter."

KS Dhatwalia, additional secretary of the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity, told the Indian Express it was "not clear" how the image had been used.

"We sent the creative to the health ministry and they then cleared it and circulated it," he said. "But how Terry's picture got to be used is not clear."

Terry's representatives believe the image may have been copied from one of the defender's numerous endorsements.

PA