Roy: I hope JT is cleared

SUPPORT ... Hodgson wants JT for qualifiers

ROY HODGSON wants John Terry to be CLEARED by the FA of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand.

JT was found not guilty of the offence by a criminal court last month.

But the FA insisted the former England skipper still has a case to answer under their disciplinary regulations — although a date has yet to be fixed for the personal hearing.

Three Lions boss Hodgson is treading a dangerous path by publicly expressing his support for the Chelsea defender.

Hodgson omitted Terry from the squad to face Italy for tonight’s friendly in Berne, Switzerland, in order to rest him for the season ahead. But he wants Terry to play a full part in the World Cup qualifying campaign without any slurs against his name.

Hodgson said: “Everything I say can be misinterpreted. As far as I’m concerned he has a case to answer with the FA and I’ll wait and see what happens.

“I’m hoping, and I make no secret of that, the case will take its course, and that John, hopefully, will be freed as he was freed in a court of law, and will carry on playing for England.

“That’s my hope. What will happen, I have no idea. As a member of the FA, it’s a sub judice situation and I’m not prepared to say any more.

“I thought John did well in the Euros and I’d like to keep using him but this is a case which is way out of my hands. John understands that.

“All I can do, like many of his supporters I suppose, is just hope he gets freed and can continue to play.”

Hodgson’s public backing for Terry will not go down well with his bosses.

Fabio Capello lost his job just weeks ahead of Euro 2012 because he wanted Terry to remain England captain before the case reached court, arguing he was “innocent until proven guilty”.