English Premiership
Terry out of Swansea match
2012-01-30 20:58
London - John Terry is to miss Chelsea's Premier League match away to Swansea on Tuesday - less than a day before a court case begins into allegations he racially abused QPR defender Anton Ferdinand.
However, Chelsea insisted the decision not to field the England captain at the Liberty Stadium was taken purely on medical grounds.
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas said they did not want the central defender aggravating a right knee injury he first suffered when colliding with a post in this month's FA Cup victory over Portsmouth.
Terry played through the pain barrier in last weekend's Cup win over QPR - the first time he and Ferdinand had faced one another since their on-pitch confrontation in October led prosecutors to press racial abuse charges, which the Chelsea skipper has always denied.
The Blues hope to have Terry back for Sunday's Premier League match against champions Manchester United and Villas-Boas told Chelsea TV: "It's just a bone oedema that he has been carrying for some time since he collided with a post, if I am not wrong against Portsmouth, and this stops him a little bit.
"It's nothing serious but something to keep an eye on. He has had an MRI (scan) before and he should be ok for Man United."
Ramires is also out of the Swansea match after damaging medial ligaments at Loftus Road, although Chelsea hope to have the Brazilian back for next month's Champions League game against Napoli.
"With what could have happened, it's just good news that he will be out for a short amount of time," said Villas-Boas.
"Hopefully he will be available for the Napoli game, and hopefully before."
The legal proceedings involving Terry are set to start at London's Westminster Magistrates Court on Wednesday.