Terry should keep the England captain's armband, insists Capello

By Andrew Warshaw

February 5 – The John Terry (pictured left) saga has taken a new twist with England coach Fabio Capello publicly criticising his bosses at the English Football Association for stripping his skipper of the national team captaincy over the racism affair.

Terry, 31, was removed as captain last week pending his trial in July for alleged racial abuse of Anton Ferdinand.

He is still captain of his club, Chelsea, but was out injured in Sunday’s 3-3 draw with Manchester United.

Capello told Italy’s state broadcaster RAI he “absolutely” did not agree with FA chairman David Bernstein’s decision.

“I thought it was right that Terry should keep the captain’s armband,” Capello was reported as saying.

“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.”

Terry, who first lost the England captaincy in February 2010 following allegations about his private life, has entered a plea of not guilty to the charges.

Capello, who was away in Italy and Switzerland when Terry learned of his trial date and the FA board’s unanimous decision to remove the captaincy, is reportedly due at Wembley today for talks with Bernstein.

His contract runs out after the 2012 European Championships in Poland and Ukraine and he is clearly annoyed at not having his views over Terry sufficiently taken into consideration.

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