Terry quits England: a great loss to England

Terry quits England national football team

 

Former England football captain John Terry has unexpectedly ended his nine-year international career on Sunday, quitting before he was due to face a racism hearing because his place in the team had become "untenable".
Despite being cleared in court of racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand during a Premier League match last year, the Chelsea defender was facing a lengthy ban if found guilty by a Football Association panel this week.
"I have always given my all and it breaks my heart to make this decision," Terry said.
The 31-year-old Terry became the first England player to be stripped of the captaincy twice when he was fired in February ahead of the criminal trial.
But he was allowed to keep playing for the national team, making his 78th - and last - appearance against Moldova in World Cup qualifier earlier this month after being cleared in court.
"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," Terry said.
The FA could ban Terry for eight club matches, the punishment Liverpool striker Luis Suarez received last year for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra in a game.
But Terry has no plans to stop playing for Chelsea, where he has spent his entire career.
"I now look forward to playing for Chelsea FC, and challenging for domestic and European honors," he said. "And I want to thank the fans and the club for their continued support."