John Terry is accused of racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand
England coach Fabio Capello said Sunday he disagrees with the decision by the Football Association (FA) to strip John Terry of the England captaincy, in an interview with Italian television.
“I thought it was right that Terry should keep the captain’s armband,” Capello told Rai 1 station.
“I don’t agree with the Football Association. I have spoken to the chairman and I have said that, in my opinion, one cannot be punished until it’s official and the court – a non-sporting court, a civil court – has made a decision to decide if John Terry has done what he has been accused of
“The fact that the board has decided in this way is because it falls under the competence regarding ethics.”
Terry was stripped of the England captaincy for the second time in two years on Friday after mounting concern his ongoing racism court case had made his position untenable.
FA chairman David Bernstein contacted Terry to inform him of the body’s decision to remove him as captain until the racism allegations were “resolved.”
Bernstein had canvassed opinion amongst members of the FA board on Thursday to discuss the best course action for Terry, who is accused of racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand during a match last year.
Terry, 31, strongly denies the charges and has vowed to clear his name. However the decision to delay his court case until July 9 left FA chiefs with the prospect of the saga overshadowing England’s Euro 2012 campaign.
©2011 AFP