Soccer: Terry 'embarrassing' - Nelsen

All Whites and Queens Park Rangers defender Ryan Nelsen has labelled Chelsea defender John Terry's penalty claim during their Premier League clash on Sunday as 'embarrassing'.

Publicly snubbed by two Queens Park Rangers players and taunted relentlessly by their fans, Terry departed Loftus Road amid accusations by Nelsen that he had collapsed in an attempt to win a penalty.

Nelsen took issue with the Chelsea captain after Roberto Di Matteo had claimed a first-half tussle between the pair was "a 100 per cent, stonewall penalty" missed by referee Andre Marriner.

"I'm really surprised Roberto said that," said Nelsen. "He was nowhere near the ball, was never going to win it, so he just fell down. He was just trying to get a penalty.

"I was holding him, of course, but he just fell down. He does it to everybody in their box. I said to him: 'That was a bit embarrassing' and he laughed when he ran off.

"If the referee gives that, it's ridiculous. If you really know the game, that's never a penalty. It happens all the time."

It is one more insult in an acrimonious feud between these London neighbours which has simmered since October, when Terry was accused of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand, charged and then cleared in court. An FA case is now pending and the mood has not improved.

Ferdinand and Rangers captain Park Ji-sung refused to shake hands with Terry. Ferdinand also chose not to shake the hand of Ashley Cole, who gave evidence in the court case in July. Cole added to the poisonous atmosphere by turning away and spitting after Ferdinand's snub.

The move by Park, a former Manchester United team-mate of Anton's brother Rio, adds to the feeling that United players may follow suit when they visit Stamford Bridge next month.

Rangers boss Mark Hughes repeated his call for the entire handshake parade to be scrapped but the Premier League are determined to see it continue.

"I thought he was fantastic, with all unnecessary pressure on him. To put in a performance like he did showed the character of the man."

Ferdinand, who tweaked a hamstring late in the goalless draw, Terry and Nelsen were outstanding. The latter quashing the threat of Fernando Torres, who stormed down the tunnel when he was replaced.

It raised questions about Chelsea's wisdom of having only one established striker, although Daniel Sturridge looked sharp when he replaced the Spaniard.

"Daniel will get chances to play and more chances in the middle," said Di Matteo. As for Torres, he added: "It's not a problem. We move on from this."

QPR fear Andy Johnson may have suffered a serious knee injury in what seemed an innocuous clash with Eden Hazard.

Nelsen said: "I don't think anybody in Anton's situation would have done it. He just said: 'This is my personal thing, whatever you guys (want to) do, do it'."

- DAILY MAIL