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| The Football Association's decision to remove the England captaincy from John Terry has left him contemplating whether to quit international football in protest and comes at a time when he is facing a potential mutiny within Fabio Capello's squad. Terry's demotion was confirmed in a 10am phone call on Friday after David Bernstein, the FA chairman, informed Capello he was being overruled because the FA could not allow the Chelsea player to continue in the role after his trial for allegedly racially abusing Anton Ferdinand was scheduled to begin on 9 July, eight days after the European Championship final.
Capello opposed the decision and is almost as angry as Terry, not least because it leaves the manager with a dilemma about who to choose as England's captain for the tournament. Rio Ferdinand immediately made it clear he did not want to be considered and, while Steven Gerrard is the obvious candidate, the Liverpool player's injury issues mean Capello will make backup plans, potentially including Gareth Barry and Scott Parker.
One key requirement will be to reunite what is increasingly looking like a fractured squad after it emerged Terry was cold-shouldered by a small but influential group of players when the squad were last together for the friendlies against Sweden and Spain.
Terry, who denies the charge and is determined to clear his name, became aware other players had a problem with him and the issue was never fully resolved before all returned to their clubs. Rio Ferdinand, Anton's older brother, was not involved but his own relationship with Terry is fragile, to say the least. These are two of the more influential players in the England dressing room and, for Capello, it is threatening to become a serious issue. Jason Roberts, the Reading striker and Kick It Out campaigner, has predicted the mood will be "toxic" and Capello will almost certainly have to address it when the players reconvene for the Wembley friendly against Holland on 29 February.
Before then, Capello will offer Terry private backing amid suggestions from the player's camp that he is aggrieved enough to consider withdrawing from contention. Terry believes the FA has reacted under pressure from the media. There is also a sense he was already considering ending his England career after Euro 2012.
Capello had wanted to keep Terry as captain in keeping with his previous statements of considering him innocent until proven guilty. He reiterated this to Terry this week and had visited him at Chelsea's training ground, again to reassure him of his position.
Capello must now reflect on a gamble that badly misfired given that it was his decision to depose Ferdinand and reinstate Terry for his second spell as captain, having initially demoted the Chelsea player because of the Wayne Bridge controversy. The manager's annoyance is exacerbated by the fact the decision was taken while he was out of the country. The FA released a statement confirming that Bernstein had "spoken to both John Terry and Fabio Capello to explain the facts. Fabio Capello has not been involved in the discussions … but understands that the FA board has authority to make this decision."
The decision was based on the fact "the FA board expected the trial to be concluded prior to the European Championship" and "the higher profile nature of the England captaincy, on and off the pitch, and additional demands and requirements expected of the captain". The FA added: "This in no way infers [sic] any suggestion of guilt in relation to the charge made against John Terry."
Terry was later offered Chelsea's backing. "It's the FA's decision," André Villas-Boas said. "I don't agree with it. John will continue to be our captain. It's the club's and the manager's decision to support the player up to the moment of the court.
"I have spoken to John. He was disappointed but John is a person of great mental strength and personal convictions. He has to move on. He's been through a period like this before when he was stripped of the captaincy and he came back to a level of great individual performances."
Capello's next captain would ideally be Gerrard but he also has to weigh up the fact the Liverpool player has started only eight games this season. Frank Lampard may not be in the team this summer and the same goes for Barry if Gerrard and Parker are available and Jack Wilshere is back from injury. Ashley Cole has also been mentioned but only briefly because the England management know he is not keen. Otherwise, Joe Hart is ruled out because he is deemed too young, at 24, while appointing Wayne Rooney would not make sense when he is banned for the first two matches of Euro 2012.
Terry has a knee injury and will miss Sunday's home game against Manchester United, sparing him the distinct possibility of being blanked by Rio Ferdinand, and potentially several other players, in the pre-match handshakes.
Ferdinand said on Twitter that he did not want to be England captain because of "the last episode". He also does not want the vice-captaincy and a spokesman for his management company, New Era, said: "Rio just wants to concentrate on playing football."
The Guardian |
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