John Terry has chosen not to challenge the four-match ban given to him for racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand.

The Chelsea captain born in Barking will miss the club’s next four domestic matches and has been fined �220,000.

An independent FA panel found Terry guilty of racially abusing the QPR player during a game at Loftus Road on 23 October, 2011.

In a statement, 31-year-old Terry said: “After careful consideration, I have decided not to appeal against the FA judgment.

“I want to take this opportunity to apologise to everyone for the language I used in the game against Queens Park Rangers last October.

“Although I’m disappointed with the FA judgment, I accept that the language I used, regardless of the context, is not acceptable on the football field or indeed in any walk of life.”