The Chelsea captain allegedly called Ferdinand 'a f****** black c***' after being mocked over his much-publicised affair with former teammate Wayne Bridge's girlfriend during the latter's five-season spell at Chelsea.

Terry is appearing in court charged with a racially aggravated public order offence during a Premier League game at Loftus Road last October.

The court heard the pair traded insults during the match but the Chelsea defender insists he was only sarcastically repeating racist obscenities Ferdinand wrongly thought he had used.

The prosecution opened their case by saying: "The Crown's case is that the words were abusive and insulting in a straightforward sense.

"They were uttered by the defendant in response to goading by Mr Ferdinand on the issue of his extra-marital affair, rather than by way of exaggerated and instant querying of a perceived false allegation.

"The Crown alleges that the defendant, most probably in response to physical gestures being made by Mr Ferdinand which the defendant understood to refer to the well-publicised allegation of an extra-marital affair with a team-mate's wife, shouted at Mr Ferdinand.

"They were uttered by the defendant in response to goading by Mr Ferdinand on the issue of his extra-marital affair, rather than by way of exaggerated and instant querying of a perceived false allegation."

Terry was allowed to view footage of the alleged incident, including previously un-broadcast pictures, which were also shown to the court.

Meanwhile, the court was also told Chelsea team-mates Ashley Cole and John Obi Mikel were in the vicinity of the alleged incident, but will not be called up as witnesses for the prosecution.

After the incident had taken place Terry gave a statement to the Football Association saying the taunts about his alleged extra-marital affair did not bother him as "...it's not the first time I've heard it, so it's with a pinch of salt a little bit now".

He also said: "We're still having a, sort of, ding-dong, if you like."

But he added:"I take quite a strong offence" at the allegation of racial abuse.

In a statement to police in November, Terry said: "Whilst footballers are used to industrial language, using racist terms is completely unacceptable whatever situation.

"I was completely taken aback by this remark as I have never been accused of something like that and I did not take his remark lightly at all, and took strong offence to his suggestion."

If convicted, Terry faces a £2,500 fine, the maximum penalty, for an offence which has already seen him stripped of the England armband and led to the resignation of Fabio Capello.

The trial continues.