England captain Terry fighting for career -press

England football captain John Terry faces the ``battle of his life" after prosecutors said he would face criminal charges over claims he racially abused QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, Britain's press said Thursday.

Wednesday's announcement, which came a day after Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was banned for eight matches for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra, proves, however, that British football is taking a lead in dealing with racism, Fleet Street agreed.

"In the age of the celebrity footballer, few players have commanded more coverage... than John Terry," said the Independent's Sam Wallace.

Charges

"But the charges laid against him yesterday by the Crown Prosecution Service represent the battle of his life."

All newspapers were in agreement that Terry would never captain England again if found guilty, and Wallace also suggested it would dash his long-term dream of managing Chelsea, his domestic club.

Popular tabloid The Sun said the ruling was a "nightmare" for the Football Association (FA), particularly if the matter is adjourned when Terry appears in court on February 1, four weeks before England play the Netherlands in a friendly match.

In that event, the paper's chief football writer Shaun Custis called on Terry to "do the decent thing and step aside".

"There need be no presumption of guilt," he added.

"It would simply be best for the national game."

Editorial

The Times editorial said the action taken over Terry and Suarez had sent a very clear message that racism where proven will not be tolerated in British football".

"Certainly compared with the appalling treatment that black players often receive in Italy and some of the Eastern European countries, England is a civilised place to play," it added.AFP