Terry axed as captain

Capello acts swiftly with Ferdinand taking armband

By Peter O'Rourke   Last updated: 6th February 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Terry axed as captain

Terry: Losing the armband

After much thought, I have made the decision that it will be best for me to take the captaincy away from John Terry. What is best for all of the England team has inspired my choice.

Fabio Capello
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The Football Association have confirmed John Terry has been stripped of the England captaincy following allegations over his private life.

Terry's future as skipper of his country has been the subject of intense speculation ever since allegations emerged that he had an affair with England team-mate Wayne Bridge's ex-girlfriend.

The Chelsea star met with England coach Fabio Capello at Wembley on Friday afternoon to discuss his future as captain in the wake of the reports.

There have been calls for Terry to lose the armband from sections of the media as it has been claimed more revelations are set to be exposed.

The FA made it clear Capello alone would decide Terry's fate and the Italian has decided to take the captaincy away from the 29-year-old.

Capello was aware the matter needed to be dealt with prior to his departure for Warsaw on Saturday ahead of Sunday's Euro 2012 draw and reports suggest the meeting only lasted 12 minutes as Capello delivered the bad news.

Best interest

A statement from Capello read: "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."

Ferdinand

Terry has received support from Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti with the Italian claiming it was business as usual for the club captain in training ahead of Sunday's clash with Arsenal.

The news throws England's plans for the World Cup into disarray with Capello now forced to appoint a new captain for this summer's tournament in South Africa.

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, who was overlooked for the job after Capello took charge in 2008, will assume the captaincy despite his injury problems this season.

Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard, who skippers the Anfield outfit, will be vice-captain and will take the armband if Ferdinand is out of the side for any reason.

Comments (123)

Davey Harbron (Chelsea fan) says...

I think that all that should have happened was to demand that John make a public apology to all the fans. Yes, he made a mistake, so does everyone else in this world of ours. I think the media should get a life. Good luck John at least you have my support in time of need.

Posted 01:53 7th February 2010

Kieran Shaw (Liverpool fan) says...

To be honest, yeah Terry made a mistake; which will obviously be on his mind, maybe taking the title of captain away from him could be justified, but they are all professionals on the pitch, eacha nd every one could be our captain. They all have their certain roles. I think just having a label like 'captain' means nothing. But again, the media get what they wanted, pushed Terry out of a position, maybe he did need to be punished, but professionally? I think thats unfair. I still think he'll do well for us in the World Cup, and he will be captain again. All of this is over-board in my eyes.

Posted 22:04 6th February 2010

Shaun Strachan (Liverpool fan) says...

I think of it as this. Terry is a good player. He will be able to take this and make sure it doesnt affect his game. If he wasnt removed this could cause a worse effect on other players and their views towards him. dislikes within the team would lead to poor performances on the pitch. It could affect several players game. I think capello made the right call. its not about punishing john, its about what is best for the team here onwards. personally would rather lampard/stevie or maybe even roonie over ferdinand. Too many mistakes, too much injury, not a natural leader and importantly he is worse then terry completely undermining the point of being cpt when he knows its only cause terry was sacked..

Posted 21:15 6th February 2010

Nazrul Habibi (Arsenal fan) says...

It is a bit silly to remove Terry from being the captain. He is a great player for the whole Nation. I don't know why Capello brought his family into football. I think he doesn't understand the British sentiment. This decision has broken hearts of lots of fans, before the world cup.

Posted 17:24 6th February 2010

Conor Welsh (Liverpool fan) says...

I'm not saying that i think Gerrard should have been picked as captain but i personally think that Ferdinand has had a poor season, the same could probablly be said for Gerrard of course. Rooney should not be captain for England simply because he is too easily angered. He's managed to keep his cool much better than in previous seasons but as captain he would still be a liability

Posted 17:07 6th February 2010

Glyn Jones (Cardiff City fan) says...

when capello came into the job he said that wags weren't welcome and they weren't going to interfere with any of his plans!!! what's changed his mind?

Posted 15:37 6th February 2010

Gibert Mannion (Sheffield Wednesday fan) says...

Once again the English press conducts a witch hunt against one of its own, although you cannot condone what Terry has done ,he does it on the pitch for England,it leaves me thinking that all those football writers are either Scottish or very unpatriotic.Capello should have given Rooney the captaincy!!

Posted 11:54 6th February 2010

Stephen Sumner (Liverpool fan) says...

Fabio,you take the captain's armband away from JT,the best captain we have had since the late great BOBBY MOORE,for something completly unrelated to football. You replace him with rio ferdinand,a play who has served a ban from football for missing a drugs test. I can't see the logic,if you say that JT is not a good roll model,what make's rio a better roll model.

Posted 10:46 6th February 2010

Gill Coker (Chelsea fan) says...

JT is a great captain and I truely believed we could have won the World Cup this year, but now we may not have a chance at all because Capello has given into the English Press who are parasites and can't help ruining another great athlete. It makes me sick, surely its his and his families business and nobody else. All I can say is we shall be crying yet again in the summer!!!

Posted 10:30 6th February 2010

Tim Page (Portsmouth fan) says...

John Terry, has been a naughty boy, obviously not a good mate. However, he is the best defender in the premiership and a very good captain. Its a shame this has come to light, but he is only human. I think we will suffer from him not being the England captain. However, if there is unrest in the camp because of this, thats how it has to be. I have complete faith in the England manager.

Posted 10:24 6th February 2010

Chris Thomas (Chelsea fan) says...

This is just another media attempt to sell papers and disrupt the squad before a big tourney. Every player in that squad has some sort of dubious history behind them (well according to the tabloids anyway) so what makes JT any different. I expected better from Cappello but it seems he's influenced by the gutter press just like everyone else. All they've acheived is to weaken the squad and remove the best man for the job because of an alleged offence. Guilty until proven innocent anyone?

Posted 10:22 6th February 2010

Rob Canfield (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

Dont worry about who has the armband J T will comand our defence like always. Good luck to you John. Noticed that its mainly M U fans bitching again

Posted 05:57 6th February 2010

Viren Patel (Chelsea fan) says...

What a crazy decision by Capello. This is definitely going to affect England's world cup hopes. Not only is JT an excellent captain, but he is also the best defender England have got. Stripping him off his armband is not a solution, but just a very conservative way of thinking.

Posted 05:51 6th February 2010

Dave Drummond (Manchester United fan) says...

Terry is a quality player and a natural leader but whats happened has happened so lets just get over it and start thinking towards the summer. Terry is a big boy and can handle his private life on his own. I don't think Rio is the right choice and as for you all who think Lampard and Gerrard should be captain, think again. Gerrard is out of form and rarley plays for the badge when he wears an England shirt, Lamps is the same. Rooney is the man, hands down. He plays with fire and takes risk and has what it takes to lead us to the world cup.

Posted 05:25 6th February 2010

Neev Subron (Manchester United fan) says...

Thank god he is gone !!!!!!!!! # Rooney should have been given the job...

Posted 04:49 6th February 2010

Andrew Harrison (West Bromwich Albion fan) says...

john terry even if not named as captain will still be a leader... but as we all know we need 11 captains on that pitch to win the world cup... not just 1 man!

Posted 04:14 6th February 2010

Craig Mcdiarmid (Hearts fan) says...

I am a Scot and I have to say that England is it's own worse enemy. Removing John Terry as captain is a big mistake. Who really cares what he does in his private life! This is a prime example of how much power the press has with regards to dictating how English football is run. What is done is done, I wish you good luck with the World Cup.

Posted 04:14 6th February 2010

Ash Ash (Chelsea fan) says...

its a terrible mistake to divide the team jUST before the build up to the world cup i suspect France Germany and Brazil and laughing there socks off.

Posted 04:00 6th February 2010

Paul Goddard (Liverpool fan) says...

i must be in the minority who thinks JT should have kept the job. rio is past it, gerrard may be liverpool skipper but its really carragher who calls the shots(and every lfc fan knows this really!!). what JT done off the pitch is his business, just let him do the talking on the pitch!!!

Posted 22:15 5th February 2010

Shin Singh (Coventry City fan) says...

Terry is the best captain England ever had without him as the leader - England have no chance of winning the world cup - he is the natural captain the others haven't got a clue!

Posted 22:15 5th February 2010

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