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John Terry sparks backlash appearing to support pleas to ban the burqa in UK

Chelsea legend John Terry has sparked controversy after appearing to endorse calls to ban the burqa in the UK via an Instagram post

[John Terry during the Premier League 2 match between Chelsea U21 and Manchester City U21. ]

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John Terry has been criticised for an Instagram comment (Image: Crystal Pix/MB Media, Getty Images)

Former Chelsea captain John Terry has faced criticism following his apparent backing of proposals to ban the burqa in the UK. The former defender has seemingly shared his position on an Instagram post by Rupert Lowe, the ex-Reform MP who has established his own political movement, Restore Britain.

Lowe, who has previously been Southampton chairman, posted a photograph of a Muslim woman dressed in a burqa outside a London Underground station displaying Bengali text. He wrote beneath the post: "This picture was taken in London.

"Restore Britain would ban the burqa, and Restore Britain would ensure that all London stations use English and English only. Enough is enough. Vote Restore Britain to get our capital city back."

Terry expressed his stance in the comments section, posting three clapping emojis accompanied by an England flag. It sparked controversy, with the former England skipper receiving some condemnation, but Lowe was swift to defend him in a follow-up post.

"I see that England/Chelsea legend John Terry is taking some flak for applauding Restore Britain's policy of banning the burqa and ensuring that all London stations use English and English only," he wrote.

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"This is the position the vast majority of the British people support. There is now a political party that will say exactly what people think and fight to make it happen. Restore Britain."

"If we get called names? WHO CARES. It does not matter. We do not care, and nor should you. This isn't 2015 anymore. These insults mean nothing.

"More people need to show some courage and stand up for what the majority thinks. Restore Britain is doing exactly that. We are going to get our country back."

Lowe, who serves Great Yarmouth in the House of Commons, had earlier departed Reform before facing suspension amid accusations of threatening conduct towards a colleague and workplace bullying. He later quit the party. The former private school pupil rejected these allegations, maintaining that he was targeted in a witch hunt after voicing criticism of leader Nigel Farage.

[Rupert Lowe, formerly of Reform UK and current leader of Restore Britain. ]

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Ropert Lowe has defended John Terry after he came under criticism (Image: Vuk Valcic/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Terry has previously lambasted the UK government regarding their handling of ex-Chelsea owner and Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich. The billionaire faced sanctions from the Conservatives under Boris Johnson following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with his UK assets frozen before offloading Chelsea to a consortium headed by American businessman Todd Boehly.

Speaking on the Obi One podcast last year, Terry stated: "I think it's disgusting what happened to him, I really do. I think as a UK government we should be embarrassed by our actions towards him.

"What he did during lockdown and what he did for the NHS was sensational. He opened up Stamford Bridge to all the nurses and gave people homes during that difficult time.

"He was just a lovely, lovely man who loved our football club and thankfully turned away from one other football club and made the right decision to come."

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