This picture shows the caring side of footballer John Terry, who was happy to take some time out of his busy day to pose with a young fan.
The Chelsea player was at Hamleys toy store, in central London, today with his wife Toni, no doubt buying last-minute Christmas presents for the couple’s twin children.
He was approached by a family who then asked him to pose for a picture with their baby son while another shopper captured the special moment on a mobile phone camera.
Smile! John Terry is caught on camera by another shopper after the parents of this baby asked him to pose for them at Hamleys
Last minute: John Terry was with his wife Toni at Hamleys in London, buying last minute gifts for Christmas
The photo comes days after the £160,000-a-week player was told he will face criminal charges over his alleged racist comments towards Queens Park Rangers player Anton Ferdinand.
Terry will appear before West London Magistrates Court on February 1 where he has been recommended for prosecution with ‘a racially aggravated public order offence’.
Reacting to the news, Terry said he was disappointed but added this would be an opportunity to ‘clear my name as quickly as possible’.
‘I have never aimed a racist remark at anyone and count people from all races and creeds among my closest friends,’ he added.
John Terry and Anton Ferdinand during a London derby, when the England captain is alleged to have racially abused the QPR defender
Terry has been charged with a racially aggravated public order offence and is due in court on February 1
‘I will fight tooth and nail to prove my innocence. I have campaigned against racism and believe there is no place for it in society.’
The maximum punishment if found guilty is a £2,500 fine and the case will not go to Crown Court.
The England captain is alleged to have called the QPR defender a ‘f****** black c***’ in a defeat during the Barclays Premier League match on October 23.
Terry has denied the racial attack but it did not stop him from receiving a torrent of abuse during Thursday night’s game against Tottenham.
He was the victim of a number of uncomplimentary chants but ignored them and went on to emerge as the match-saver in a 1-1 draw.
The player’s agent Paul Nicholls said he did not want to comment on the picture of Terry in Hamleys but did say that this type of behaviour was not out of the ordinary.
‘This is not him being any different than he would normally be.’
Terry clears a shot away from the goal in Thursday night’s game
Terry gives his shirt to a surprised spectator at the end of the game
Meanwhile a picture of another Premier League footballer, also charged with racially abusing a fellow player, was released of him with a young black child.
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, was hit with an eight-match ban and a £40,000 fine by the FA for allegedly aiming a racial slur at Manchester United defender Patrice Evra during a fixture between the two clubs on October 15 this year.
His lawyer, Alejandro Balbi revealed the image at a news conference after indicating that he expects his client to launch an appeal following the initial ruling.
Suarez denies the charges and Liverpool are awaiting the written verdict of the case before they lodge an appeal in the new year.
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was hit with an eight-match ban and a £40,000 fine by the FA for allegedly aiming a racial slur at Manchester United defender Patrice Evra
