JOHN TERRY - Chelsea and England captain
Under investigation by Met Police and FA after TV pictures show him allegedly racially abusing Anton Ferdinand.
Released a statement that night distancing himself from widespread internet allegations and later vowed to clear his name in FA inquiry.
Admits he uses an offensive phrase but only in a defensive context.
Spoke with Ferdinand in the dressing rooms at Loftus Road to smooth over the 85th-minute incident but appointed a legal team to defend him the next day.
Backed by Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas and has been selected by England boss Fabio Capello for squad to face Spain and Sweden.
ANTON FERDINAND - QPR defender
Disputes Terry's version of events and has co-operated with the authorities in their investigation.
Has behaved in a dignified manner throughout and released a statement admitting he had 'very strong feelings' about the matter.
Ferdinand claimed it would be his last word on the matter, but he wore a 'Kick It Out' campaign T-shirt during the warm-up before last week's defeat at Spurs.
Received a death threat at QPR's training ground last week and family members have installed panic alarms at their homes.
Also re-tweeted racist comments directed at his online account.
Trouble: Terry clashes with Ferdinandat Loftus Road - the beginning of this scandal
PAUL NICHOLLS - Terry's agent and PR manager
Goalkeeper turned gamekeeper, Nicholls began his career as a youth team player alongside Terry.
Went on to play for Heybridge Swifts, Fisher Athletic and Rushden & Diamonds, but quit to look after Terry's commercial deals and PR.
Took the decision with Terry to release a statement defending his client the night TV footage of the incident with Ferdinand first appeared on YouTube.
STEVE ATKINS - Head of communications and public affairs at Chelsea
Has done much to improve the image of the club since he joined in June 2008.
Was involved in the consultation with Terry and his PR adviser over the statement released by the England captain.
Also released a statement on behalf of club backing Terry and another distancing them from behaviour of Chelsea fans singing 'Anton Ferdinand we know what you are' in Genk last week.
ASHLEY COLE - Chelsea and England defender
One of Terry's closest friends at Chelsea. TV pictures show Cole's head obscuring the start of Terry's outburst. It is yet to be established whether he heard Terry shouting at Ferdinand.
Terry asked Cole to sign an affidavit the following day in support of him.
BRANISLAV IVANOVIC - Chelsea defender
Was on the scene at Loftus Road, but told friends he 'heard nothing racist'.
He spoke with player liaison officer Gary Staker at the training ground on October 24 about the incident.
Will be asked for his account of this meeting.?
Close: Terry is good friends with Cole whose head it was which blocked some of the TV footage
GARY STAKER - Player liaison officer at Chelsea
Once employed as a tunnel steward, worked his way in when Claudio Ranieri was manager because he could speak Italian. Became close friends with his former boss.
Pressure on him to reveal what was said in meeting with Ivanovic.
DIDIER DROGBA - Chelsea striker
Was sent off at Loftus Road.
Has now emerged that the striker is willing to stand up for Terry because of his work on behalf of the Didier Drogba Foundation, which provides financial and material support for Africans.
JIM STURMAN - Chelsea's QC
Arrived at the training ground on October 27 with club secretary Dave Barnard to interview key individuals and begin legal strategy.
Called to the bar in 1982, he became a QC in 2002. Specialises in sports law.
He was part of the defence team in Cole's 'tapping up' case and has represented Marcel Desailly, Jose Mourinho and Steve Clarke in UEFA disciplinary cases.
He also acted for West Ham during the Premier League's disciplinary proceedings relating to Carlos Tevez and third-party ownership.
BARNEY FRANCIS - Managing director, Sky Sports
Handed over footage of every recorded camera angle from Loftus Road to police and the FA.
Sky have up to 20 cameras at a Premier League match, but not all are recording. The incident was caught by the director on the day.
He went to camera three, stationed on the halfway line at the side of the pitch, to film the incident, although it was partially obscured by Cole's head.?
Other camera angles may show the start of Terry's sentence, but are more likely to be from distance.
Diving in: Drogba - who was sent off during the game - is expected to support Terry
BERNARD HOGAN-HOWE - Met Police Commissioner
Will ultimately decide whether Terry should be charged. Worked his way through the police force after graduating with a law degree.
Joined the Met in 2001 as assistant commissioner, but left to bring in controversial plans for 'total policing' on Merseyside in 2004.
Has been awarded the Queen's Police Medal.
ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS - Chelsea manager
Claimed the matter was closed before they played Everton in the Carling Cup, but called it wrong.
Accused the media of launching a witch hunt against Terry, but it's a situation he wasn't expected to handle when he was appointed.
Met Capello and managing director of Club England Adrian Bevington at Chelsea's training ground last week.
NEIL WARNOCK - QPR manager
Wants the Chelsea fans who sang 'Anton Ferdinand we know what you are' locked up for two years.
Responded to questions about Ferdinand by claiming he has been the club's best player this season. Has fully backed Ferdinand throughout and is willing to attend an FA hearing if asked.
CLINT HILL - QPR defender
Went on loan to Nottingham Forest in September, but was recalled because of injuries.
He was on the spot when the incident took place and was prevented from touching Terry by Chelsea defender Ivanovic.
His evidence will be crucial.
Calling the shots: QPR boss Warnock has had his say on the matter
FABIO CAPELLO - England manager
The selection of Terry for the friendlies with Spain and Sweden was never in doubt after he claimed his captain was 'innocent until proven guilty'.
Insists racism is not an issue in England, but has previous experience of dealing with the issue.
In 2008 the FA refused to play Spain in the Bernabeu because of the racial abuse suffered by Ashley Cole in 2004.
The fixture was switched to Seville and Capello released a statement distancing himself from the decision.?
DARREN BAILEY - Director of governance and regulation at the FA
Was a Chelsea schoolboy player, but didn't make the grade.
Became a leading sports lawyer and worked for the International Rugby Board in Ireland. Was appointed by the FA in 2009 to oversee football governance
and regulation including discipline, anti-doping, integrity, equality and child protection, financial regulation and on-field and off-field regulatory matters.
Has been in close contact with Kennedy throughout the process.
THE GANG OF FIVE - The FA, Wembley Stadium
Chairman David Bernstein, director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking, general secretary Alex Horne and Bevington met Capello last Friday to discuss Terry's position.
According to FA sources the decision to pick Terry was unanimous.
DAVE BARNARD - Chelsea secretary
A long-serving and loyal member of staff.
At the time, Roman Abramovich was pre-occupied defending his civil case against former associate Boris Berezovsky so Barnard was crucial in co-ordinating the training ground meeting.
? Backing: Capello has selected Terry for the forthcoming friendlies
JENNY KENNEDY - Head of off-field regulation at the FA
Part of the disciplinary and compliance unit at the FA, she interviewed Terry along with a junior member of staff at Chelsea's training ground.
Has worked on drugs testing programme and has admitted individuals are deliberately targeted for tests. It will be Kennedy's decision whether to charge Terry for a breach of FA regulations.?Terry back in the frame to face Spain after Capello's plans hit by Jagielka toe injuryPolice called in as Ferdinand is sent 'death threat' over race row with Terry I will play Terry! Capello vows to pick race row skipper against Sweden... but not SpainTerry handed place in England squad by Capello despite race row... but Rio left outAll the latest Chelsea news, features and opinion
Source: Daily Mail
Source: Daily Mail