LONDON, Sept 24: John Terry’s racism hearing started on Monday, a day after the Chelsea defender quit England duty in protest at the case being pursued by the Football Association.

The former England captain was charged by the FA despite being cleared in court of racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand during a Premier League match in October.

Terry said on Sunday that the disciplinary hearing at Wembley had made his position in the England squad “untenable.”

He had been allowed to continue playing despite being stripped of the England captaincy.

“I don’t see how we’ve made (his position) untenable, they’re two very separate processes,” FA General Secretary Alex Horne said. “It’s something that happened in a match — it shouldn’t be taking a year to resolve.”

The FA separately thanked Terry for his contribution to the team in the nine years since making his international debut.

“Following his announcement that he is retiring from the England team, the FA would like to thank John Terry for all of his efforts with the national team over the past decade,” read a statement from the FA.

“During his 78 appearances, John has always given his full commitment to the team.”

England manager Roy Hodgson, meanwhile, reluctantly accepted John Terry’s retirement from internationals but said he was disappointed in the defender’s decision.

“I’d like to thank John Terry for his commitment to the England team since I became manager. I am of course disappointed to lose a player of John’s international experience and exceptional ability,” Hodgson said on Monday. —Agencies