QPR veteran Ryan Nelsen says Anton Ferdinand can be proud of how he handled their clash with Chelsea.

The build-up to the west London derby was dominated by the pre-match handshake and, as expected, Ferdinand rejected John Terry and Ashley Cole during the ritual.

"Anton didn't deserve this, all the stuff that's gone on. He and his family have had to go through so much. I feel really bad for him," Nelson said.

"If Anton had told us not to do it (the handshake)....but that's the measure of the man.

"He just said: 'This is my personal thing. Whatever you guys do, do it.'

"In the end the Premier League forced everyone to do it, but I don't think anybody in Anton's situation would have done it."