• Ramires appeared to be injured when struck by the ball
• Brazilian could miss Champions League tie against Napoli

Ramires may be out “for at least four weeks at least” due to a medial knee ligament injury suffered during the second half of Chelsea’s FA Cup fourth-round victory at Queens Park Rangers.

The injury appeared to happen when the ball hit the Brazilian midfielder’s leg. After lengthy treatment by club medical staff he was carried off on a stretcher.

If he is out a month, he could miss at least four Premier League games and the last-16 round of the Champions League when it resumes next month.

André Villas-Boas, the Chelsea manager, said: “It’s not so bad in terms of knee injuries. He’ll have the MRI on Sunday and we’ll know the full extent. Hopefully he is going to avoid an operation and he is going be back soon.

“We have to know the extent of the injury – eventually with treatment we could look at a four-week period, maybe more, hopefully not.”

The midfielder is likely to miss the league games with Swansea, Manchester United, Everton and Bolton Wanderers, plus the first leg of the Champions League last-16 encounter with Napoli.

Frank Lampard, who sat out the 1-0 win over QPR with a calf injury, is rated at 50-50 to play against Swansea City on Tuesday.

ChelseaQPRFA Cup 2011-12FA CupJamie Jackson
guardian.co.uk

After the phantom handshake, this FA Cup tie barely lit up and had only one potential powder-keg moment, which was happily a good old-fashioned football incident: the disputed Juan Mata penalty that won the game.

The Football Association had called off the pre-match handshake between the sides after learning Queens Park Rangers would unilaterally ignore the convention in solidarity with Anton Ferdinand. This meant that the only shake from the players was between Joey Barton and John Terry at the coin toss – the matter an issue due to the Chelsea captain’s court appearance on Wednesday to answer the charge that he racially abused Ferdinand earlier in the season, which he denies.

On an incessantly sour and hostile afternoon, it was Daniel Sturridge who caused the sole true moment of on-field acrimony. When he went down close to Clint Hill in the area from a Mata cross just after the hour Mike Dean pointed to the spot. But the left-back’s furious volley at Sturridge plus subsequent replays suggested that the forward had fashioned a swallow dive and, as Barton continued to debate the matter with the forward, Mata stepped up to slot home.

“Cheat! Cheat!” was the livid cry from the home congregation, the latest choral offering in a tie that was peppered with the obscene chants and boos that can form the alternative soundtrack to Terry’s fine football career.

Luke Young had made the first mistake of many in QPR’s mediocre showing when a cleared Barton free-kick came back to him and his attempted return of the ball to the Chelsea area found only Fernando Torres. The striker instantly passed to Mata and though this was short Young compounded his initial error by sliding and failing to clear the danger. This allowed the Spaniard to zoom at Paddy Kenny’s goal before he let fly a shot that the keeper parried well.

QPR’s attack strategy had been to punt and hope and against Chelsea’s band of classy operators this proved futile. The right result, then, but a questionable route to it. But with little off-field incident apparently occurring perhaps Ferdinand, Terry and company can now move on.

At the close the players did embrace and Ferdinand did a mini-lap to clap his support.

FA Cup 2011-12QPRChelseaFA CupJamie Jackson
guardian.co.uk

• ‘Malicious communication’ was allegedly received by QPR
• Ferdinand to face John Terry for first time since league meeting

Anton Ferdinand was the target of a death threat on the eve of Saturday’s potentially explosive west London derby against Chelsea. Hammersmith and Fulham police are investigating a letter, believed to contain an object, which was received by Queens Park Rangers and is understood to have been addressed to the defender.

The buildup to the FA Cup fourth-round tie has been dominated by the first meeting of Ferdinand and John Terry on the pitch since the England captain was charged with a racially aggravated public order offence relating to an altercation with the QPR defender during the fractious league meeting at Loftus Road in October.

Terry’s case is due to be heard at Westminster magistrates court on Wednesday, though he will not be in attendance, with his legal team to enter a not guilty plea on his behalf.

It is not clear whether Ferdinand was made immediately aware of the letter but a Metropolitan police spokesman said: “I can confirm we are investigating an allegation of malicious communication received today at Queens Park Rangers football club. Officers from Hammersmith and Fulham are investigating.”

Confirmation of the threat will dismay both clubs, who had been hoping to ease the tension ahead of the tie. The two chairmen issued a joint statement this week appealing for calm.

John TerryChelseaQPRFA Cup 2011-12FA CupRace issuesDominic FifieldJamie Jackson
guardian.co.uk