Terry hit by fine but escapes ban

Poll (left) sent off Terry at White Hart Lane

Chelsea and England captain John Terry has been fined £10,000 and reprimanded by the Football Association after being charged with improper conduct.

After being sent off in the 2-1 defeat at Spurs, Terry claimed referee Graham Poll gave him conflicting reasons for the second yellow card he received.

Terry initially requested a personal hearing, but later accepted the charge.

An FA Disciplinary Commission statement said: "We were extremely disappointed the integrity of Poll was questioned."

It added: " We note the late admission to the charge and the excellent previous disciplinary record of John Terry.

"But we are also disappointed that no public apology had been forthcoming for his admitted improper conduct."

Terry is currently out of action after undergoing back surgery.

The FA brought the charge on the basis that comments Terry made on Chelsea's own television channel questioned the referee's integrity.

Terry claimed in an interview, which was widely reported, that Poll had given him conflicting reasons for his second yellow card, saying: 'On the pitch, Graham Poll said to me that it was for the barge on Hossam Ghaly where I just kept running,'" said the FA statement issued when Terry was charged.

"'Then, after the game, he then said to me it was for the fall when me and Ledley King fell so, you know, he's obviously had a look at it, or got people to look at it and decided that's probably the best option for him and it covers every angle for him.'"

Poll denied Terry's claim and was cleared of saying anything inappropriate towards any Chelsea players during the match.