Grant blasts decision to level charges

FORMER Chelsea manager Avram Grant has criticised the FA for taking the action against John Terry and was surprised by his decision to quit England.

He told BBC Radio Five: “Nobody thinks that John Terry is a racist so the FA need to leave it. John likes to fight and he’s very passionate about the national team so I was surprised. But he’s not a child. He knows what he’s doing.

“One thing I must say about JT is that he’s not a racist – that’s for sure. He’s a good man. He respects everybody, he’s good with people and I was very surprised that people thought bad things about him.

“If [the FA] think JT is racist they need to do something but I think nobody thinks he is a guy like this. I think the message was clear and I don’t think they need to charge him. For the FA, the more important thing is the message that it will not have racism in sport.”

Meanwhile, Newcastle manager Alan Pardew believes England have lost a “great” player following Terry’s decision to retire from international football.

Pardew said 31-year-old Terry’s decision was his business, but admitted it would have come as a blow to national manager Roy Hodgson. He said: “That’s a personal decision that John has made and I am not going to throw my personal opinion on that. I just know for the manager of England, it’s a blow because he is a great player and the pool isn’t great for English players at the moment. That’s the tough end for us but that is a personal decision John has made.”

Pardew has on several occasions in the past championed Magpies defender Steven Taylor for a senior call-up and Terry’s departure means there is a vacancy. However, he believes the timing is not quite right for the 26-year-old, who has only just returned to action from a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Pardew said: “Steven has ambitions to play for England and I think he has a lot of credentials for that. But I think it’s too early for him at this stage because he is only just back from a long injury.”