Premier League insist QPR and Chelsea players will shake hands despite Anton Ferdinand and John Terry tensions

 

The Premier League has announced the pre-match handshakes between QPR and Chelsea players will go ahead as planned ahead of their encounter on Saturday, despite the probability that John Terry and Anton Ferdinand will both be fit to play.
Ferdinand and Terry will come face to face for the first time since the Chelsea captain's race trial in July.
Terry was found not guilty of using a racial slur against Ferdinand in the corresponding fixture last October, but remains the subject of a Football Association investigation over charges which he denies.
In a statement issued on Friday afternoon, the Premier League said: "There has been dialogue between the Premier League, Queens Park Rangers and Chelsea in relation to tomorrow’s match between the two clubs. All parties understand and acknowledge that the pre-match handshake will go ahead as part of the normal pre-match activity."
Speaking earlier on Friday, QPR manager Mark Hughes said: "There's a lot of debate every time we have a game against Chelsea.
"I've got my own views on the handshake and I raised those at Premier League level even before this season started. I don't want to go into that. We'll be guided by the Premier League and will respect the handshake if we're told that's what needs to happen.
"I'm conscious of the fact that every time we play Chelsea the issue of the handshake clouds everybody's mind and the focus is taken away from a great Premier League game.
"It's not my decision to make. We're governed by the Premier League and if we're told it will go ahead, then we will do that. We haven't spoken to them but I imagine they'll insist the handshake goes ahead, which isn't a problem."
Hughes held talks with his squad over the issue but refused to reveal what was said.
Ferdinand has been reported to have been considering snubbing Ashley Cole as well after the Chelsea left-back testified as a character witness for Terry.
"We've had a discussion with the players but that's between myself and them. We don't have to broadcast that," Hughes said.
"Everybody has a mind of their own and will make a personal decision. It's unfortunate that they're in a situation where it's in the public domain. Anton is fine, there's no problem with him."
Meanwhile, Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo insisted his players will all willingly take part in the handshake as usual.
"We'll go ahead with it, yes," Di Matteo said on Friday.
"We're going to respect the rules and the protocol that is in place from the Premier League and set a positive standard to the millions of people watching across the world."
Di Matteo confirmed Terry and Cole will both return from the ankle injuries which ruled them out of England's World Cup qualifier against Ukraine on Tuesday.
"They've recovered (from injury), had a couple of days training and we expect them to be available for tomorrow."
Di Matteo revealed he had held talks with QPR manager Mark Hughes, a former team-mate of his at Chelsea, but did not know whether the home players would snub Terry and Cole.
"I do not know, but I hope that they will as well respect the rules and go ahead with it and we can all focus on the football," Di Matteo added.