London - England and Chelsea captain John Terry is to face an investigation by the English Football Association over claims he racially abused QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
An FA statement said Terry would be investigated after the organisation received a complaint of "alleged racist abuse" stemming from an incident in Sunday's stormy west London derby won by QPR.
"The FA can confirm it has received a complaint relating to an alleged incident of racist abuse in the QPR versus Chelsea fixture at Loftus Road on 23 October 2011," the FA statement said.
"The FA will now begin to make enquiries into this matter. The FA takes seriously any allegations of discrimination and abuse of this type."
QPR owner Tony Fernandes said in a separate statement the club stood squarely behind Ferdinand, the brother of Terry's England team-mate Rio.
"Queens Park Rangers Football Club does not condone racism in any way, shape or form. As a club, we will provide our players with our unequivocal support when alleged incidents like this occur."