Ferdinand spared handshake with Terry

Anton Ferdinand was spared having to shake John Terry's hand before QPR's FA Cup clash with Chelsea.

The Football Association gave the clubs permission not to take part in the traditional pre-match handshake, amid uncertainty as to whether Rangers defender Ferdinand would snub Terry.

This is the first time the two sides have met since Terry was charged with racially abusing Ferdinand during October's Premier League game between the two.

Terry has denied the offense and Ferdinand was reportedly agonizing over whether or not to accept his hand.

The FA released a statement which read: "Following discussions on Friday evening and Saturday morning involving senior officials from QPR, Chelsea and the FA, it has been agreed there will not be the usual team handshake before today's FA Cup fourth-round tie at Loftus Road.

"The FA agreed to the request by both clubs in an attempt to further defuse tensions before the match."

Those tensions were raised on Friday night when Metropolitan Police announced they were investigating a "malicious communication" sent to QPR and addressed to Ferdinand.

There were reports the package contained a bullet but the contents on Saturday remained unconfirmed by both police and the club.

But the matter was serious enough to prompt Rangers and Chelsea to announce all fans entering Loftus Road would be subject to "full searches" before entering the ground.

Stewards were seen using handheld metal detectors, with some donning protective goggles, while there was a heavier than usual police presence.

QPR boss Mark Hughes admitted the handshake may have been cancelled because more than one of his players were considering snubbing Terry.

Rangers boss Hughes revealed he held a meeting with his players last night at which some of them suggested they would be prepared to join Ferdinand in snubbing the England captain.

"There could well have been an issue but players make their own decisions," Hughes said.

"I said Anton was the guy who had to make his own decisions for himself about whether or not he shook John Terry's hand.

"With the group I have got I know they wanted to support their team-mate and the situation in the end was to take it out of the equation and not to have the issue."

He added: "There were discussions this morning as well and Chelsea had their views and basically we all came to the same decision."

Blues manager Andre Villas-Boas knew nothing of suggestions more than one QPR player would snub Terry and revealed he only learnt there would be no handshakes 45 minutes before kick-off.

But despite on Friday insisting it was "extremely important" Ferdinand and Terry shook hands, Villas-Boas said: "It was a wise decision bearing in mind the expectancy that was aroused from the fact that a couple of events could happen in that handshake.

"It was wise not to do it because it could have an impact on crowd behaviour."