Di Matteo: Shake for our kids

RESPECT ... Roberto Di Matteo has urged his players to go ahead with pre-match ritual

ROBERTO DI MATTEO has begged warring QPR and Chelsea stars to shake hands — for our children’s sake.

Blues skipper John Terry faces an FA charge of racially abusing R’s defender Anton Ferdinand during a match at Loftus Road last October.

All eyes will be on them and their team-mates today.

Chelsea boss Di Matteo said: “I will speak to my players and, from our point of view, there are no issues.

“Our players are fine. They are respecting the rules and we’re going to go ahead with the pre-match handshakes.

“It’s something that shows respect to the opposition and is a rule we all have to respect.

“The Premier League is a global brand watched all over the world and players do have a responsibility. They are role models and children watch them.

“The majority of them have good, high standards and understand that, with the high media exposure we have these days, they need to act responsibly in front of the TV cameras.”

When QPR played Chelsea in the league and FA Cup last season, the handshake was abandoned in fear of prejudicing Terry’s court case over his alleged racial abuse of Ferdinand.

Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole is viewed by some as aiding and abetting his captain by sticking up for him in the proceedings, which cleared Terry.

Both Cole and Terry have been passed fit for today’s highly-charged encounter and are likely to start.

Di Matteo added: “To be able to survive at the top, you need to be mentally strong.”