Terry retires from England amid racism case
updated 7:22 AM EDT, Mon September 24, 2012
Chelsea defender John Terry has retired from international football with England.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- John Terry retires from international football
- Chelsea defender won 78 caps for England
- Decision comes on the eve of scheduled FA hearing
- Terry: "My position with national team untenable"
Former England captain John Terry has announced his retirement from international football with immediate effect.
The Chelsea defender, who won 78-caps for his country, was scheduled to attend an FA hearing on Monday for allegedly racially abusing QPR's Anton Ferdinand.
Terry was cleared of the allegations by a London court in July.
Terry, who lost the armband on two separate occasions for off-field incidents, says the FA has made his "position with the national team untenable".
John Terry cleared of racial abuse
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The host venue for Saturday's Champions League final, Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena, has a capacity of 69,000 that the German club sells out for every match.
Chelsea's Stamford Bridge, on the other hand, has a capacity of just 41,837 -- but the English club has similar matchday revenue to Bayern due to higher ticket prices. However, owner Roman Abramovich is seeking to move to a bigger stadium.
Russian billionaire Abramovich has owned 100% of Chelsea since buying the club in 2003. Bayern, on the other hand, is 82% owned by fans -- most German clubs are governed by the "50+1" rule to protect them from aggressive takeovers.
German legend Franz Beckenbauer, left, lifts the European Cup in 1975 -- the second of Bayern's four triumphs. Chelsea skipper John Terry, right, missed a vital penalty in his club's only previous final appearance in 2008.
Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes won Europe's top club tournament with Real Madrid in 1998, while Chelsea's interim manager Roberto di Matteo is seeking to follow up this season's English FA Cup final success.
Bayern will be without (from left) David Alaba, Holger Badstuber, Luiz Gustavo, as the trio are suspended after being booked in the second leg of the semifinal against Real Madrid.
Chelsea's dramatic semifinal win over defending champions Barcelona came at a cost as Terry (left) was sent off, and Branislav Ivanovic, Raul Meireles and Ramires picked up yellow cards to also be ruled out of the final.
Bayern's record signing is $40 million top scorer Mario Gomez. Chelsea splashed out twice that on Fernando Torres, who has struggled to find the net since leaving Liverpool in January 2011. Bayern's revenue is higher, but Abramovich has funded Chelsea's spending sprees.
Bavarian stronghold
Leaving the Bridge?
Oligarch vs. fans
Bayern 4 Chelsea 0
Heynckes vs. Di Matteo
Bayern's banned players
Chelsea's costly win
Spending power
HIDE CAPTION
Bayern vs. Chelsea: Final figures
And the 31-year-old has now confirmed he will be unavailable to represent England in their quest to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
In a statement, he said: "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 honor 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 honor. 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 honors, and I want to thank the fans and the club for their continued support."
Terry made his England debut in 2003 against Serbia and Montenegro and was made permanent captain in 2008.
But his tenure as captain came to an ignominious end in February 2010 after he was revealed as the sportsman behind a gagging injunction involving his private life.
A court order had previously been in place, covering an alleged relationship between married Terry and French model Vanessa Perroncel -- a former partner of teammate Wayne Bridge.
Terry was restored as captain by Fabio Capello on March 19 2011 before losing the armband once again following the alleged incident with Ferdinand during Chelsea's game at Queens Park Rangers last October.
Terry's final game for England was earlier this month when he played in the 5-0 win over Moldova in Chisinau.
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