The Chelsea and England football captain John Terry has pleaded not guilty to a charge of racially abusing opponent Anton Ferdinand during a Premier League match last October.
In December, Britain's Crown Prosecution Service decided Terry should be prosecuted for a "racially aggravated public order offence".
Terry said at the time he would fight tooth and nail to prove his innocence.
Allegations against the England captain come at an awkward time with just over four months left until the Euro 2012 championship begins in June.
