Ferdinand: How YouTube revealed John Terry’s racist slur

England and Chelsea defender Terry, 31, is accused of calling Ferdinand a “f****** black c***” during a Premier League match last October.

Today, Queens Park Ranger player Ferdinand told Westminster Magistrates’ Court that initially he did not think any racist terms had been used.

But after the match his girlfriend at the time played him a YouTube clip, and he became convinced that one had.

Ferdinand told the court that if he had realised at the time he would have told officials.

He said: “I would have been obviously very hurt and I probably wouldn’t have reacted at the time because, being a professional, you can’t do that. I probably would have let the officials know what happened and dealt with it after the game.

“When someone brings your colour into it, it takes it to another level and it’s very hurtful.”

Ferdinand said he was no stranger to being sworn at and under cross-examination from George Carter-Stephenson QC agreed he had also sworn at players.

The QPR defender said he was angry at Terry trying to get a penalty and “he barged me in the back for no reason”, he said.

The barrister told Ferdinand he has a tendency to “paint yourself in the best light”.

Asked why he was so angry with Terry appealing for a penalty, Ferdinand, describing himself as a “calm, collected player”, said: “Because I am a winner.”

Ferdinand added that he was angry because Terry had made a hand gesture at him indicating he had bad breath.

Proceedings in Court One have been punctuated by swear words but Ferdinand insisted he did not use those words off the pitch.

The QC asked the witness if by shouting abuse at him he was “trying to get a rise out of Mr Terry and get him to react?”

“Probably, yes,” said Ferdinand.

“There wasn’t long left in the game.”