Ferdinand spared decision over handshake for Terry

LONDON (AP)—Anton Ferdinand was spared having to decide whether to give John Terry a pre-match handshake on Saturday after the Football Association allowed Queen’s Park Rangers and Chelsea to forego the traditional ritual before their FA Cup match.

The match, which Chelsea won 1-0, was the London rivals’ first meeting since Chelsea captain Terry was alleged to have racially abused Ferdinand during a Premier League match in October.

Terry was investigated by police and faces a criminal charge over the incident. Terry will appear in court Wednesday.

“The FA agreed to the request by both clubs in an attempt to further defuse tensions before the match,” the FA said in a statement, adding that it made the decision “following discussions on Friday evening and Saturday morning involving senior officials from QPR, Chelsea and the FA.”

The west London rivals issued a joint statement this week appealing for calm at Loftus Road but the Metropolitan Police opened an investigation Friday after Ferdinand was reportedly sent a package containing a bullet.

Fans were searched by police on their way into the match and Terry was taunted throughout by the Loftus Road crowd but seemed unaffected.

Juan Mata scored a 62nd-minute winner with a penalty kick, prompting Chelsea fans to chant “Anton, what’s the score?”

Elsewhere, Liverpool striker Luis Suarez—serving an eight-match ban for racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra earlier this season—cheered from the stands as his club beat United 2-1 in the teams’ fourth-round FA Cup match at Anfield.