Defender John Terry has announced his retirement from international football for England, blaming the Football Association (FA) for making his position untenable after being charged of racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand.
Terry, who has 78 England caps to his name, faces a
ban of upwards of four matches if found guilty of the charge, an outcome that would pose a significant challenge to the FA's moral authority as a governing body were he to then be selected for the England team.
It is believed that the former England captain has taken that decision out of the FA's hands, claiming that the decision to pursue him on charges, of which he has already been acquitted in a court of law, was decisive.
"I am today announcing my retirement from international football. I would like to thank the England managers who have selected me for my 78 caps," the Telegraph quoted Terry, as saying in a statement released on Sunday night.
"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 encouragementduring my international career," he added.
"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.I want to wish Roy [Hodgson] and the team every success for the future," he said.
Terry added: "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."
"I now look forward to playing for Chelsea, and challenging for domestic and European honours, and I want to thank the fans and the club for their continued support," he concluded.
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