LONDON — Two weeks after playing for England at the European Championship, John Terry was in a London courtroom Monday, facing the rival player he is accused of racially abusing during a globally televised Premier League match last year.

From the dock, the Chelsea captain scribbled notes as Anton Ferdinand of west London rival Queens Park Rangers told of his anger that an on-pitch confrontation had allegedly descended into racism.

The 31-year-old Terry, who accuses Ferdinand of fabricating the racism claim, faces a maximum fine of $3,900 if he becomes the first top soccer player in England convicted of racial abuse during a game.

"The words he used demonstrated hostility based on Mr. Ferdinand's membership, or presumed membership, of a racial group," prosecutor Duncan Penny said, opening the case that is expected to last five days in front of a judge rather than a jury.

Terry does not deny calling Ferdinand an "(expletive) black (expletive)" following an exchange of insults in the penalty area in the October West London derby, when they were initially separated by the referee and other players.