Chelsea captain in England squad despite facing disciplinary action

PanARMENIAN.Net - Chelsea captain John Terry was included in the England squad announced Thursday, Aug 30 for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine despite facing disciplinary action for racial abuse, AFP reports.

The defender is due at an FA independent disciplinary hearing over charges he used a racist slur against QPR star Anton Ferdinand, an allegation he denies and was cleared of by a London court in a criminal case last month.

The controversy prompted the FA to insist Terry be stripped of the England captaincy before Euro 2012, while then manager Fabio Capello resigned in protest at the decision.

Terry was selected by current England manager Roy Hodgson for the Euros but he was rested, along with several other senior players, for this month's friendly win over Italy.

Meanwhile Daniel Sturridge and Ryan Bertrand, Terry's club colleagues at European champions Chelsea, were also included in Hodgson's latest squad.

The pair both featured against Italy in Bern a fortnight ago.

Sturridge has kept his place in the absence of Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, out with a thigh injury, while Bertrand provides cover at both left back and on the left side of midfield.

England's campaign to reach Brazil 2014 starts in Moldova on September 7 before they welcome Ukraine to Wembley four days later.