Chelsea FC: John Terry Faces Trial for Alleged Racial Abuse

While transfer rumors heat up around the soccer world, many Chelsea supporters' eyes fall on the courtroom this week as defender John Terry is facing trial for alleged racial abuse of Queens Park Rangers' Anton Ferdinand.

The incident took place on Oct. 23 in a Premier League fixture between Chelsea and QPR. Terry is accused of responding to a spat with Ferdinand in a racist and attacking way. Ferdinand did not immediately report the incident as racial abuse, but upon seeing video decided that Terry was racially abusing him.

According to ESPNSoccernet, "[Terry] maintains that he was only sarcastically repeating what Ferdinand wrongly thought he had said."

If found to have committed racial abuse, Terry faces a maximum fine of £2,500. The trial as a whole, and especially if the claims are proven, is certainly a blemish to the already-flawed reputation of Terry. Either way, this is certainly not an ideal way to spend the holiday before Chelsea begin their preseason in the coming weeks.    

For extensive coverage and updates throughout the trial, the Fulham Chronicle's Dan Levene is on the scene.

His Twitter account, @BluesChronicle, has provided frequent updates, even including the suit selection for Chelsea's John Terry. Give Levene a follow to stay up to date on all the happenings from Terry's trail for alleged racial abuse.