John Terry has been handed a four-match ban for racially abusing QPR's Anton Ferdinand but the length of the suspension has been questioned.

The Chelsea skipper had denied the charge but an FA independent regulatory commission ruled he was guilty of misconduct during the Barclays Premier League defeat at QPR last October. He was also fined £220,000, thought to be just over a week's wages.

Terry, 31, is considering an appeal, while questions have been asked why the ban was only half the length of Liverpool's Luis Suarez, banned for eight games for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra. Joey Barton criticised the decision as "a shambles" compared to his 12-game ban for violent conduct.

Terry expressed dis-appointment, pointing out he was found not guilty in magistrates court in July of a racially-motivated public order offence.

He had already quit international football, saying his position was "untenable".