John Terry left with an anxious wait for verdict

John Terry was left facing an anxious wait to discover if he will be found guilty of racially abusing a rival footballer after a judge heard closing arguments in the case on Thursday.

The former England captain is standing trial accused of branding Queens Park Rangers player Anton Ferdinand a "fucking black cunt" during a match between Chelsea and QPR on October 23 last year.

The case, which is being heard at Westminster Magistrates Court in London, was adjourned until 1300 GMT on Friday, when Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle is expected to deliver his verdict.

Chelsea skipper Terry denies committing a racially aggravated public order offence. He has told the court that he was sarcastically repeating words he thought Ferdinand had said to him.

In his closing speech, prosecutor Duncan Penny dismissed Terry's argument that the defender was sarcastically repeating words he thought Ferdinand had said to him, saying Terry was guilty of "straightforward racial abuse."

Defence lawyer George Carter-Stephenson said that the prosecution case was based on "speculation" and said Ferdinand's evidence was "unreliable.

If found guilty, Terry could be fined up to £2,500 ($3,850, 3,150 euros).