MX23RW : Sunday, December 15 12:25:18| >> :60:398:398:

Roberto Di Matteo hopes players will shake hands

Di Matteo hopes players will shake hands
© PA Photos
Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo wants the handshake ritual to go ahead as usual when his side face QPR tomorrow.

Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo has revealed that he hopes the pre-match handshakes between his side and Queens Park Rangers will be respected tomorrow.

The match will be the first between the two sides since Chelsea captain John Terry was found not guilty of racially abusing QPR's Anton Ferdinand.

The Premier League have insisted that the two sides will shake hands, but QPR manager Mark Hughes will let his players make up their own minds.

Di Matteo, however, hopes that both sides will shake hands, and that the match will be played in good spirit.

"I hope that they will [shake hands] as well respect the rules and go ahead with it and we can all focus on the football," he said.

"I know 'Sparky', Mark Hughes, very well and we touch base every now and again, and speak. Hopefully, everybody will focus on football tomorrow and move on.

"That's the most important aspect. The Premier League is watched all over the world now and we have to set a good positive standard for everyone watching. The handshake is just part of that, part of the Respect Campaign. Hopefully, the game will be played in good spirit."

QPR striker Bobby Zamora has already outlined his intention to shake Terry's hand.

ID:45193: cacheID:45193:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2645:
Written by
Barney Corkhill
Restore Data
Share this article now:
John Terry and Anton Ferdinand
Read Next:
Hughes to let players make handshake decision
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Chiefs
@
Browns
6pm
Ravens
@
Giants
6pm
Jets
@
Jags
6pm
Cowboys
@
Panthers
6pm
Washington
@
Saints
6pm
Dolphins
@
Texans
6pm
Bengals
@
Titans
9.25pm
Colts
@
Broncos
9.25pm
Patriots
@
Cardinals
9.25pm
Buccaneers
@
Chargers
9.25pm
Steelers
@
Eagles
9.25pm
Bills
@
Lions
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City158342721627
6Aston Villa167452425-125
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Fulham166642422224
10Brentford157263128323
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton153661421-715
16Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1512121131-205


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!