QPR boss Mark Hughes admits Anton Ferdinand was not alone in wanting to snub shaking the hand of Chelsea captain John Terry before yesterday's FA Cup defeat.

The Football Association this morning gave the clubs permission not to undertake the usual handshake routine prior to this afternoon's fourth-round tie at Loftus Road.

That spared Anton Ferdinand having to shake the hand of Chelsea captain Terry, who has been charged with racially abusing his fellow defender and faces a court case that begins on Wednesday.

"There could well have been an issue but players make their own decisions," Hughes said.

"I said Anton was the guy who had to make his own decisions for himself about whether or not he shook John Terry's hand.

"With the group I have got I know they wanted to support their team-mate and the situation in the end was to take it out of the equation and not to have the issue."

He added: "There were discussions this morning as well and Chelsea had their views and basically we all came to the same decision."