Chelsea: 'John Terry decision was difficult'

Chelsea have insisted that John Terry's decision to retire from international football was "personal and difficult" for the former England captain.

The 31-year-old made the announcement on Sunday night, claiming that the Football Association had left his position "untenable" by charging him with racially abusing Anton Ferdinand during a game against Queens Park Rangers in October, a charge that he denies.

"This was a personal and difficult decision for John to take as playing for and captaining his country was a boyhood dream," read a statement on the Chelsea website.

Terry was capped 78 times for his country after making his senior debut in 2003.