Chelsea skipper John Terry felt he had no alternative but to announce his international retirement last night.

The Daily Mail says Terry quit England hours before the start of his hearing over the alleged racial abuse of Anton Ferdinand.

Terry made the decision after becoming convinced that the Football Association are determined to find him guilty of the offence, with the hearing due to begin officially in a London hotel on Monday morning.

It is understood the FA's failure to acknowledge their rule 6.8 - which says the outcome and evidence of any civil or criminal court trial should be regarded as the correct version of events - was the final straw for Terry.

He had hoped the hearing would be abandoned on these grounds but, on finding out that it would be proceeding, decided he could no longer play for England.