For the second time, Chelsea’s John Terry has been stripped of the England captaincy. The English Football Association confirmed that Terry was informed of the decision by FA chairman David Bernstein in a phone call Friday morning.
Terry is due to stand trial in July over racial abuse allegations after an incident with QPR’s Anton Ferdinand and there has been mounting pressure within England to remove Terry as England’s captain ahead of this summer’s Euro 2012 competition
The FA released a statement on their web site which read:
Following the decision to adjourn the court case against John Terry to July, The Football Association confirm he will not captain the England team until the allegations against him are resolved.
The FA Board expected the trial to be concluded prior to the European Championship. Further to Wednesday’s confirmation that the trial will not take place until after the tournament, the Board has discussed the matter in detail and has collectively decided it is in the interests of all parties that John has the responsibilities of captaincy removed at this time.
This decision has been taken due to the higher profile nature of the England captaincy, on and off the pitch, and the additional demands and requirements expected of the captain leading into and during a tournament.
The FA Board can confirm that he has not been excluded from the squad and that Fabio Capello is free to select him for the Holland fixture on 29 February and the European Championship.
FA Chairman David Bernstein has spoken to both John Terry and Fabio Capello to explain the facts to them. Fabio Capello has not been involved in The FA Board discussions which reached this conclusion, but understands that The FA Board has authority to make this decision.
Fabio Capello will take the decision as to who will be made captain moving forward.
This decision in no way infers any suggestion of guilt in relation to the charge made against John Terry. The FA will be not be making any further comment on this matter.
Neither Terry nor Fabio Capello have released statements on the FA’s decision. When that happens I will update this story.
