Terry stands down from England duty ahead of FA hearing
As John Terry announces his retirement from international football, an FA official insists the disciplinary hearing over a racism charge was entirely separate from his England prospects.
The Chelsea defender announced on Sunday that he was quitting the international scene, claiming the FA’s decision to pursue a case against him after he was cleared in court of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand made his position in the national team “untenable”.
But FA General Secretary Alex Horne has insisted that this is not the case.
Mr Horne said he is “mystified” by Terry’s decision to retire from international football.
“I don’t see how we’ve made it untenable – they’re two very separate processes,” he told Sky Sports News on his way into FA headquarters at Wembley this morning.
Different compartments
“It’s something that happened in a match – it shouldn’t be taking a year to resolve but we feel we’re reaching a conclusion on that.
“That’s a very different process from our England procedures. They sit in different compartments and I could separate the two in my mind, but it doesn’t look like he could.”
Terry could face a lengthy ban if found guilty by the FA of using racist language during a match for Chelsea against QPR on 23 October 2011.
The 31-year-old denies that charge and was found not guilty in court, with the prosecution unable to prove he had called Ferdinand a “f****** black c***” as an insult.
Terry admitted using the words, but insisted he had only been repeating words he thought Ferdinand had accused him of saying.
The case is due to start on Monday, triggering Terry’s decision to end his England career.
Terry legal team will be led by George Carter-Stephenson QC – who successfully defended him in court – and is said to be ready to argue that his acquittal in a criminal trial means the FA case cannot proceed.
Suarez ban
The FA will argue its charge against Terry is distinct from the racially aggravated public order offence from which he was cleared in July.
The panel, which handed Liverpool striker Luis Suarez an eight-match ban when they found him guilty of racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra last season, declared that simply using racist language was enough to constitute a breach of FA rules.
In a statement announcing his retirement, Terry said: “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 and the team every success for the future.”