John Terry will be a 'massive loss' for England, says Andre Villas-Boas

John Terry was captain from 2006 to 2010 before being sacked by Fabio Capello (Getty Images)

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas insists John Terry will be sorely missed by England following his international retirement.

Terry was today banned from domestic club football for four matches and fined £220,000 after being found guilty of racially abusing QPR's Anton Ferdinand by a Football Association independent regulatory commission.

The 31-year-old Chelsea captain, who can lodge an appeal, had already announced earlier this week that his England career is over.

"It's a massive, massive loss for England," said Villas-Boas, Terry's former manager at Chelsea.

"John Terry is a player with unbelievable talent and helped this country so much, and the same for Chelsea too.

"In the end they are his decisions, personal decisions.

"It's difficult for a player to take a position like this but on the perspective of England and qualification it leaves (England manager) Roy Hodgson in a difficult position bearing in mind the centre-backs he has at his disposal.

"I'm not putting into question the quality of the other players, but he is certainly missing one player of great, great talent."

Joey Barton was unimpressed with Terry's punishment.

The Marseille midfielder tweeted: "4 games? A years worth of investigation, a four day FA hearing and only a 4 game ban? Suarez got 8 didn't he? WTF's going on...

"Well I think that proves a lot. What an absolute farce. 12 games for violent conduct and only 4 for that. FA should be embarrassed £shambles."

PA