Queens Park Rangers 0 // Chelsea 1
In the end, there was no handshake. No set-piece moment where Anton Ferdinand was forced to acknowledge or shun the man who will appear in court to plead innocent to a charge that he racially insulted the Queens Park Rangers defender when last they met.
At the request of both clubs, the English Football Association dispensed with the now customary "fair-play handshake" ahead of this cup match. It was a decision to stay John Terry's embarrassment and bypass Ferdinand's intention to resist pressure on him to do what some considered the gentlemanly thing.
"Extremely important," the Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas said of the handshake ahead of the tie.
"This game is based on good values more than anything else. These players should continue to promote these good values."
That flew in the face of Terry's inability to promote good values in October's Premier League meeting. Even if the racist expletives he mouthed in that game were used only in a denial that he had said them, as the England captain has claimed, his words were unnecessary.
Mark Hughes, the QPR manager, hinted after the game that more than one of his players were considering snubbing Terry if the handshake had gone ahead, adding that "the situation in the end was to take it out of the equation and not to have the issue".
Pressing Ferdinand to shake hands with Terry ahead of a court case that will decide if Chelsea's captain is guilty of a racially aggravated public-order offence that threatens his entire career was like asking Wayne Bridge to ignore Terry's infidelity with the mother of his child two years before. Once an extremely close friend, Bridge also did not fancy it.
There were other parallels to 2010. As at Stamford Bridge, large elements of the Chelsea support felt it appropriate to boo the victim, whether Ferdinand proves to be an intentional one or not.
As with the last time, an opposing support had their own ideas about the true villain of the piece. "John Terry, we know what you did" was the chant from much of Loftus Road.
Terry's attempt to prove his innocence will not be an easy one. It is believed that his club has not assisted with his legal costs.
Reports last week that Terry will be supported by witness statements from Carlo Ancelotti and Marcel Desailly, respected former manager and teammate, did not mention that some current colleagues have refused to sign the glowing character references his lawyers presented them with.
At least Saturday's game proved a relatively straightforward affair for Terry. QPR were as organised and disciplined as you would expect a Mark Hughes side to be yet created precious little in front of goal. Their one clear chance arrived in the final minute of injury time after Terry was out-manoeuvred by Jamie Mackie, and Luke Young almost found the bottom corner.
With far greater control than they have shown in recent outings, Chelsea dominated possession but still required a questionable penalty to make the fifth round. Daniel Sturridge collapsed following the lightest of collisions with Clint Hill and as the defender berated him for play-acting, Mike Dean awarded a spot kick.
Juan Mata converted calmly to keep Chelsea in one of the two competitions Villas-Boas still has a chance to win and prove his qualities as a manager. A trial of his captain's qualities as a man awaits Terry.
sports@thenational.ae
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)
Nancy Ajram
(In2Musica)
Women & Power: A Manifesto
Mary Beard
Profile Books and London Review of Books
Last 10 NBA champions
2017: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-1
2016: Cleveland bt Golden State 4-3
2015: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-2
2014: San Antonio bt Miami 4-1
2013: Miami bt San Antonio 4-3
2012: Miami bt Oklahoma City 4-1
2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
2010: Los Angeles Lakers bt Boston 4-3
2009: Los Angeles Lakers bt Orlando 4-1
2008: Boston bt Los Angeles Lakers 4-2
About Krews
Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: January 2019
Number of employees: 10
Sector: Technology/Social media
Funding to date: Estimated $300,000 from Hub71 in-kind support
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THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
MATCH INFO
Fixture: Thailand v UAE, Tuesday, 4pm (UAE)
TV: Abu Dhabi Sports
Ticket prices
General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
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5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
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