FA: Terry defence was improbable, implausible and contrived

The Football Association has made public the written reasons behind the decision of an independent panel to ban John Terry for four games and fine the Chelsea captain £220,000 for racially abusing QPR's Anton Ferdinand.
　
The FA presented its detailed findings in a 63-page document released on Friday morning.
　
The regulatory commission said Terry's explanation for using the words 'f*****g black c***' towards Ferdinand was not credible, and his defence was 'improbable, implausible and contrived'.
　
Terry admits using the words in question but maintains he was asking Ferdinand if he thought he had said the offensive term to him.
　
The FA said: 'The commission is entitled to use its collective experience of life and people to judge demeanour.
　
'We have watched the film footage many times. In the critical phase, during which he uses the words, Mr Terry can be seen to be smiling initially, before his facial expression changes to disdainful and contemptuous.
　
'At no point is his demeanour and facial expression that of someone who is imploring, injured, or even quizzical in the face of an unfounded allegation by Mr Ferdinand that he had just been racially abusive towards him.
　
'Anger is a conceivable reaction to such an accusation, but at no time does Mr. Terry convey any sense of 'no, I didn't' with his facial expression, or body language.
　
'In the light of those findings, the commission is quite satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that there is no credible basis for Mr Terry's defence that his use of the words were directed at Ferdinand by way of forceful rejection and/or inquiry.
　
'Instead, we are quite satisfied, and find on the balance of probabilities, that the offending words were said by way of insult.
　
'It is not the FA's case that Mr. Terry is a racist. There is a large body of testimonial evidence, including statements from black footballers, to say that he is not.'
　
　Oct. 5, 2012.