LONDON: Never mind John Terry, the future of Fabio Capello as manager of England may be in question after reports from Italy that he was opposed to the FA’s sacking of the Chelsea man as national captain writes KEIR RADNEDGE.
Capello has been away in Italy and Switzerland this past week while Terry was learning of the long-term postponement of his racist comment trial which prompted the FA’s need to tkr a decision about the captaincy.
This meant he was unable to have a personal meeting with FA chairman David Bernstein who orchestrated the discussions with his board which ended in a unanimous opinion that Terry’s status as captain would be inappropriate and distractive at the Euro finals in Poland and Ukraine.
Capello told Italian state television: “I completely disagree with the FA about the John Terry decision. I have told that to the chairman. I considered and still consider Terry the England captain. I think we first should wait for the trial conclusion. It cannot be sanctioned until it is properly judged by competent bodies.”
Bernstein announced on Friday that Terry would not be allowed to captain the England side until after his July 9 trial at which he will be accused of racially insulting Anton Ferdinand in the defeat at QPR on October 23, although he is still available for selection.
Apparently Capello told Terry on Friday that he was angry at what has transpired but not able to do anything about it. The FA was thus anxious to contact Capello and clarify what was said and when.
Capello made clear his stance that the Chelsea man was “innocent until proven guilty” when he won his battle to name Terry in the squad for the November friendlies with Spain and Sweden. Yet he is aware that a number of senior players are uncomfortable about Terry’s presence in the squad in the light of the allegations against him.
Terry was stripped of the captaincy first in the spring of 2010 over allegations about his private life. Capello played a crucial role in his ultimate restoration to the job.