Anton Ferdinand has told a court that he found alleged racist abuse by John Terry "very hurtful".
Chelsea defender Terry, 31, is accused of calling Ferdinand a "f**king black c***" during a Premier League match at Loftus Road last October.
Queens Park Rangers centre-back Ferdinand told Westminster Magistrates' Court today that he did not initially think Terry had been racist but changed his mind after his girlfriend showed him a YouTube clip of the incident.
Ferdinand, 27, told the court: "I would have been obviously very hurt and I probably wouldn't have reacted at the time because, being a professional, you can't do that. I probably would have let the officials know what happened and dealt with it after the game.
"When someone brings your colour into it, it takes it to another level and it's very hurtful."
Ferdinand went on to explain the details of the verbal exchange between himself and Terry, which is said to have been over a penalty decision on the pitch.
Ferdinand added: "He called me a c*** and I called him a c*** back and he gave me a gesture as if to say my breath smelled.
"I said to him 'How can you call me a c***? You shagged your teammate's missus (in relation to an alleged extra-marital affair of Terry's), you're a c***'."
Terry is accused of a racially aggravated public order offence, which he denies.
He spoke at the court this morning and maintains that he was only sarcastically repeating what Ferdinand wrongly thought he had said.
The trial continues.