Former England captain John Terry has announced his retirement from international soccer, the BBC reported on Sunday.
The 31-year-old Chelsea defender was capped 78 times in an international career stretching back to 2003.
Terry announced his retirement less than 24 hours before the Football Association hearing on the Anton Ferdinand saga was set to begin.
According to the Guardian web site, Terry accused the FA of making his position "untenable."
His statement reads:
"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. 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. I want to wish Roy [Hodgson] and the team every success for the future. 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 FC, and challenging for domestic and European honours, and I want to thank the fans and the club for their continued support."
