Chelsea captain John Terry has been given 14 days to appeal a four-match ban issued by the Football Association after being found guilty of racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand.
The written reasons behind the suspension have been published in a 63-page document by the English governing body and it has been stated that the length of the ban was due to the centre-back's admission that he had used the word "black" while addressing Ferdinand during a West London derby almost a year ago.
Due to the reference to colour and/or race, the FA have claimed that a lesser punishment was not issued. However, the governing body have revealed that they took Terry's disciplinary record into account when deciding to suspend the defender and fine him £220,000.
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was handed an eight-match ban on the same misconduct charge but according to the report, Terry's ban was not matched to the Uruguayan's as he did not repeat the word "black" during the incident.
Terry is free to continue playing for Chelsea until an appeal is lodged, if the former England captain chooses to do so.
