Saturday, February 6, 2010

World Cup 2010 Blog: John Terry Stripped of England Captaincy

World Cup 2010 Blog: John Terry Stripped of England Captaincy

Link to World Cup Soccer - South Africa 2010

John Terry Stripped of England Captaincy

Posted: 05 Feb 2010 09:16 AM PST

john terry captainJohn Terry will not be England captain at the 2010 World Cup. Simple as that. Fabio Capello flew back from Italy to make a decision following the revelation of Terry’s alleged affair with Wayne Bridge’s ex-girlfriend, sat down with Terry, and told him the bad news. Unlike John Harkes though, John Terry will remain in the England team. He’ll play at World Cup 2010. He just won’t have an armband around his bicep. He might even be relieved to get out of all the PR activities a World Cup bound England captain is obliged to do.

The English media and bookies were probably hoping for a few days of “Who will be the new captain?” speculation, but Capello has cleverly robbed them of that chance by pointing out that he already named Rio Ferdinand vice-captain and Steven Gerrard as third-choice-captain (vice-vice-captain?) and so it’s a simple case of both men stepping one rung up the ladder.

Capello’s statement released on the FA website is below:


"After much thought, I have made the decision that it will be best for me to take the captaincy away from John Terry.

"As a captain with the team, John Terry has displayed extremely positive behaviour. However, I have to take into account other considerations and what is best for all of the England squad.

"What is best for all of the England team has inspired my choice.

"John Terry was notified first.

"When I chose John Terry as captain, I also selected a vice-captain and also named a third choice. There is no reason to change this decision.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank The FA, particularly Lord David Triesman and Ian Watmore for allowing me to make this decision in my own time and in the best interest of the team."

Obviously this whole thing has been a tawdry mess, and doesn’t do English football any favours. I’m not even sure they should be allowed to wear all-white at the World Cup now. But credit to both the FA for staying out of it, and to Fabio Capello for being stone cold decisive and leaving very few loose ends. I’m almost tempted to say the whole thing is done and dusted, but we’re yet to see how John Terry reacts, how the England team reacts, and – most gossipy of all – whether Wayne Bridge makes the England World Cup squad.

- More on England at England World Cup Blog
Posted by at No comments:

Hall of Fame exclusive: Dwight Clark on Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman on Emmitt Smith

SNT Header

MAMUDU,

Your February 06, 2010 issue of Sporting News Today is now available, please click here.



If you experience any problems with your issue, please click here to contact our customer service department.

Know a friend who might like Sporting News Today? Email him/her this link: www.sportingnewstoday.com.

cover
 

  Trouble Viewing? If any of the above links do not work for you,
  copy and paste this URL into your browser:
  http://today.sportingnews.com/t=c/?1&121322&156111&18875&0000&1236490227&EIInjEOx9cS45  

  Please do not reply to this message. Questions may be submitted to Digital Support.

  To stop receiving email notifications for digital issues of Sporting News Today,
  click here.

  Sporting News Today 120 West Morehead Street Suite 200 Charlotte, NC 28202
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)