English Premiership
Trial 'traumatic' for Ferdinand
2012-07-16 14:19
Kota Kinabalu - The court trial that found John Terry not guilty of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand was "traumatic" for the QPR defender, his manager Mark Hughes said on Monday.
Hughes was speaking at a press conference in the Malaysian city of Kota Kinabalu, where his side will play an exhibition match against a local side on Tuesday.
On QPR's arrival in the city on Saturday, Ferdinand declined to comment on Terry's acquittal on Friday at a London court.
"Anton gave his side of what happened in court and it was certainly a traumatic experience for him," Hughes told reporters.
"So far he has reacted well and is committed to the Asian tour, where we have three friendly matches to play."
Chelsea skipper Terry and Ferdinand could yet face disciplinary action from England's Football Association for bringing the game into disrepute -- they admitted in court to verbally abusing each other several times.
The trial related to an incident between Terry and Ferdinand, whose brother Rio formerly partnered Terry in the centre of the England defence, during a Premier League match on October 23 last year.
Terry was stripped of the England captaincy in February over the allegations.
On rumours Hughes could be set to swoop for fellow Welshman Craig Bellamy from Liverpool, the manager said: "There has been a lot of speculation over Craig. Yes I know him very well. But at the moment it is all speculation."
QPR have been busy in the transfer market, bringing in Park Ji-Sung among a host of signings, and Hughes hopes that will mean the Londoners will avoid the struggles of last season.
"Now I have more time to prepare the side and get the quality players that were lacking before. I can say that QPR has a great future and obviously we will do better that last season. We are confident that we won't be struggling."
QPR head to the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur to meet Super League champions Kelantan in a friendly on Friday.