PREMIERE LEAGUE NEWS

Terry vows to fight FA after Chelsea captain is hit with charge over Ferdinand race row

John Terry has vowed to fight an FA charge of making a racist remark towards QPR defender Anton Ferdinand.

The FA chose the night of the London 2012 Olympics’ opening ceremony to make the announcement official after two weeks of deliberations.

Terry was found not guilty of a racially aggravated public order offence at Westminster Magistrates Court on July 13.

John Terry, who is in Miami with Chelsea on the club's pre-season tour, has been charged by the FA over his spat last October with Anton Ferdinand

he FA, asked by the Crown Prosecution Service to delay their action until the criminal case was over, have given Terry seven days to respond. 

The FA have accused the Chelsea defender, who was stripped of the England captaincy when charged last February, of the offence that saw Liverpool’s Luis Suarez banned for eight games for racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra.

They said in their statement: 'Chelsea captain John Terry has been charged by the Football Association with using abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, the FA have confirmed.

Case for the defence: Terry was was cleared of racially abusing Ferdinand earlier this month at Westminster Magistrates' Court

Wenger irked by Van Persie question

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has denied the club are any closer to selling striker Robin van Persie after becoming irritated by questions about the Dutchman's future.

Wenger was pressed about Van Persie by journalists after his side had lost 2-0 to Premier League champions Manchester City on the latest leg of their Far East tour. City and rivals Manchester United have been linked with a move for the unsettled Arsenal captain and Wenger has become annoyed by the speculation.

Several newspapers quoted Wenger as saying: "We have talked about Van Persie. I have talked about Van Persie and I'm not talking about that question any more."

The Dutchman has missed Arsenal's tour and is instead working on his fitness following Euro 2012.

Wenger added: "Van Persie is close to fitness. But we have not had any more contact from City or United about him."

City manager Roberto Mancini backed up Wenger's claim that no bids had been made.

"If he said this, I think it's true. Van Persie is one of the best strikers so it's difficult to buy him," said Mancini.

Madrid coach keen on Modric

Assistant coach Aitor Karanka has given the clearest indication yet that Real Madrid want to replace Kaka with Tottenham's Luka Modric this summer.

Modric has returned to training with Spurs this week, having been fined by the club for skipping sessions as he sets his sights on a move away from White Hart Lane this summer.

Manchester United and Paris St Germain have both been linked with the Croatia playmaker, with Tottenham believed to be holding out for a £40million fee, but Real appear his likeliest destination, a move which would allow Brazil international Kaka to end a largely ineffective spell at the Bernabeu.

Big-spending PSG have also been mooted as the 30-year-old's next stop and he did not travel with Real for Tuesday night's friendly away to Real Oviedo, which they won 5-1.

Karanka told AS: "We decided he would stay in Madrid. Kaka and the club are working to find a good solution for all parties."

Asked about Modric, he added: "Which club would not want a player like him?

"He is an outstanding footballer and had a great tournament (Euro 2012). It is clear that he would fit in Madrid."