Chelsea captain John Terry, has announced a shock retirement from
international football, with immediate effect. The England defender, is
clearly not pleased with the FA’s stance on his case of race abuse with
Anton Ferdinand. Terry was cleared at Westminister Magistrates Court,
but the FA hearing will begin this week.
In a statement, he said: "I am making this statement today in advance
of the hearing of the FA disciplinary charge because I feel the FA, in
pursuing charges against me where I have already been cleared in a court
of law, have made my position with the national team untenable."
If found guilty by the
FA he could face a lengthy
ban, similar to the one served by Liverpool's Luis Suarez last year, and
could also have have been dropped by England had he not retired.
The 31-year-old Chelsea defender denies using a racial slur against
QPR's Anton Ferdinand and was found not guilty of a racially-aggravated
public order offence at Westminster Magistrates Court in July.
In his statement: "I would like to thank the England managers who have selected me for my 78 caps," he said in his statement.
"I have had great pleasure in sharing that honour with all the players that I've played with.
"I would like to thank them, the fans and my family for their support and encouragement during my international career.
"Representing and captaining my country is what I dreamed of as a boy and it has been a truly great honour.
"I have always given my all and it breaks my heart to make this decision."
On its website, Chelsea FC said: "This was a personal and difficult
decision for John to take as playing for and captaining his country was a
boyhood dream."
