WEMBLEY, England — John Terry's racism hearing started 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 has always denied using a racist slur against his opponent. Terry said 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. “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.” The FA separately thanked Terry for his contribution to the team in the nine years since making his international debut. “I'd like to thank John Terry for his commitment to the England team since I became manager,” England manager Roy Hodgson said Monday. “I am of course disappointed to lose a player of John's international experience and exceptional ability. “I have enjoyed a good relationship with John during my time as England manager and I reluctantly accept his decision. I can also confirm that he had the courtesy to call me prior to announcing his retirement from the England team. I'd like to wish John well for the future with Chelsea.” The criminal action had to prove Terry's guilt beyond reasonable doubt but the judge ruled the prosecution had not proved their case to that standard. Terry had hoped his courtroom acquittal would be the end of the matter but instead found himself on the end of an internal FA hearing. He, his legal team, the independent FA panel and Ferdinand were all seen arriving at the FA's Wembley Stadium headquarters in north London Monday morning. Terry's supporters say the FA's own regulations should preclude any further action. The FA's own rule 6.8 states: “Where the subject matter of a complaint or matter before the Regulatory Commission has been the subject of previous civil criminal or civil proceedings, the result of such proceedings and the facts and matters upon which such a result is based shall be presumed to be correct and the facts presumed to be true unless it is shown by clear and convincing evidence, that this is not the case.” However, the FA is likely to insist its charge is distinct from the racially-aggravated public order offence of which Terry was cleared in the criminal case. Terry admitted in court he used a racial slur against Ferdinand but only in a denial after he believed Ferdinand had accused him of using those words. — Agencies
