John Terry faces FA disciplinary panel over racial abuse claim
Terry, who won 78 caps, said: "Pursuing charges [when] I have already been cleared in a court... has made my position untenable."
Terry received a not guilty verdict at July's trial but was subsequently charged by the FA two weeks later for using alleged "abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour" towards the QPR defender during October's game at Loftus Road.
The court heard accusations that Terry had insulted Ferdinand, describing him as "black" and using extreme sexual swear words.
The prosecution had to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Terry had used the words in an insulting manner, which it could not.
But the FA, whose charge includes an alleged "reference to the ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race of Ferdinand", only has to prove its case "on the balance of probabilities".
The defender telephoned Roy Hodgson to inform him of his decision before he released his statement on Sunday evening.
The Football Association said they would not be commenting on Terry's retirement.
Terry, who had two separate stints as England captain, most recently played in the 5-0 World Cup qualifier victory over Moldova on 7 September.
He made his debut in a 2-1 friendly victory over the then Serbia and Montenegro in 2003.
BBC
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