• Villas-Boas had said handshake was ‘extremely important’
• ‘That has to be his decision,’ says Hughes

Mark Hughes has refused to add to the pressure on Anton Ferdinand to shake John Terry’s hand before QPR’s FA Cup clash with Chelsea after André Villas-Boas claimed it was “extremely important” the player did so.

The Rangers manager said it was entirely Ferdinand’s decision whether to snub Terry during the pre-match handshake prior to Saturday’s west London derby at Loftus Road. Villas-Boas hoped and expected Ferdinand would accept Terry’s hand, despite the latter having been charged with racially abusing his fellow defender – a charge the England captain denies.

Ferdinand is reportedly agonising over whether shaking Terry’s hand could be seen as hypocritical amid claims he has been advised by Rangers that to do so would be the best course of action. But Hughes said this afternoon: “If he feels it is not appropriate, that has to be his own decision. It won’t be influenced by myself or the club.”

Asked if it was important Ferdinand did shake Terry’s hand, Villas-Boas had said: “Extremely important, extremely important”, before adding: “This game is based on good values more than anything else. These players should continue to promote these good values.”

Villas-Boas confirmed the matter had been discussed with Terry, who looks certain to offer his hand to Ferdinand. The Chelsea boss said: “Everybody has been having conversations, from the top, to the players, to the manager.”

Saturday’s game sees the players square off for the first time since allegations emerged that Terry had used a racist slur against Ferdinand during October’s Premier League match at Loftus Road. The cup tie also comes four days before Terry is expected to enter a not-guilty plea at Westminster Magistrates Court, having repeatedly denied the charge against him.

Neither Villas-Boas nor Hughes had any fears over their respective defenders’ mentality going into Saturday’s game. Villas-Boas said of Terry: “I have to count on the player, and the player is fit and available for the game.” Hughes said: “Anton is very clear in his mind, as I am, that irrespective of what surrounds the game, and the speculation and conversations, that he is fit, he is well and able to play.”

Hughes played down reports Ferdinand had spent £30,000 on personal security to ensure a trouble-free journey to Loftus Road. He joked: “We’re actually in a hotel tonight and travelling to the ground by coach so it is 30 grand he didn’t have to spend.”

Chelsea have already vowed to ban any fan found racially abusing Ferdinand from Stamford Bridge, including those who sing the now-notorious “Anton Ferdinand, you know what you are” chant.

Hughes suggested QPR stood ready to eject anyone from Loftus Road heard doing so on Saturday. He said of the chant: “I think we understand what is meant by that.”

He added: “If there is inappropriate chanting or behaviour then you get ejected from the ground and rightly so.”

Extra police have been laid on for a game which will kick-off at 12pm in a bid to limit any trouble, while both clubs issued strongly-worded statements this week warning supporters to behave. Villas-Boas admitted there were also “extra responsibilities” for both sets of players to keep calm amid what could be a hostile atmosphere on Saturday.

Chelsea had two players sent off in October’s league meeting but Villas-Boas insisted there was no need to warn his squad about their behaviour prior to kick-off on Saturday. “I won’t speak to the players specifically about that before the game, not at all,” he said, predicting the match would pass off without trouble. “The environment was outstanding the last time we played there at Loftus Road, so I expect it to be the same.”

Hughes said: “We as a club obviously have spoken quite closely with Chelsea and the police. I just hope everybody is sensible and enjoys the game for what it is, a fantastic cup tie that we’re all looking forward to.

“We basically want to be talking about the football and what happens on the pitch.”

FA CupQPRJohn TerryChelsea
guardian.co.uk

• Anton Ferdinand to consult about shaking John Terry’s hand
• Alex leaves Chelsea for Paris St-Germain in £4m deal

Dominic Fifield

The chairmen of Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers, Bruce Buck and Tony Fernandes, will issue a joint statement on Wednesday appealing for calm ahead of Saturday’s potentially explosive derby between the clubs.

Tensions are running high around the fixture, with John Terry due to appear at west London magistrates’ court a week today charged with racially abusing the QPR defender Anton Ferdinand during the league clash involving the clubs in October. Terry denies directing the comments at his opponent.

The Chelsea manager, André Villas-Boas, has already indicated he will have no qualms selecting his captain for the FA Cup fourth-round tie – which has been moved forward to a midday kick-off on police advice – though Buck and Fernandes will release their statement in the hope they can defuse some of the tension.

Pockets of Chelsea supporters have adopted a provocative chant about the incident that has been sung at some games since, most notably in the Champions League match at Genk, though the chairmen will plead for both sets of fans to “focus on the football” rather than the issues around the game.

Terry intends to offer his hand to his opponent in the pre-match formalities that will inevitably draw the focus at Loftus Road, though it remains unclear whether Ferdinand will accept it. The QPR defender is expected to speak with the club [THURS] on Thursday about the issue and will only then decide whether or not to shake hands prior to kick-off.

Lord Ouseley, an FA Councillor and chairman of the anti-racism campaign Kick it Out, has urged Ferdinand to do so. “Here we have the due process taking place, where a player will face the consequences of his actions,” he said. “But there is every reason for players and indeed fans to show civility and respect toward each other and focus on the football. I have nothing against that. A handshake now is part of the reconciliation and honesty that needs to take place.

“It is not about retribution and continued hostility. It is about reconciliation. It is about how to take the heat out of the situation of the two clubs meeting again, and problems with fans’ behaviour as a result of what happened between the players previously. A handshake before the game will not deflect from what went on before and how it will be dealt with.”

Chelsea, whose squad are in Majorca on a warm-weather training break, are expected to make an improved offer for Shakhtar Donetsk’s Brazilian forward Willian before the closure of the transfer window next week. An initial inquiry for the 23-year-old, who would be cup-tied for the Champions League, has been rejected, with Shakhtar seeking considerably more than the £16.5m Chelsea initially indicated they might be willing to pay, though an improved bid will test the Ukrainian club’s resolve.

Chelsea may also seek to complete a move for Genk’s Kevin de Bruyne before the cut-off, though the winger would remain at the Belgian club on loan for the season. Alex, meanwhile, is close to completing a £4m move to Paris St-Germain that will see the central defender reunited with Carlo Ancelotti. The Brazilian rejected the chance to join QPR, who have at least completed the six-month loan of the Milan defender Taye Taiwo after the Nigerian was granted a work permit.

ChelseaJohn TerryQPRDominic Fifield
guardian.co.uk