Blues back Terry after England captaincy snub
Source: Agencies |
February 4, 2012, Saturday
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JOHN Terry has been stripped of the England captaincy by the English FA but will continue to captain Chelsea, his club manager Andre Villas-Boas said yesterday.
The 31-year-old Chelsea center back is awaiting trial after pleading not guilty on Wednesday to a charge of racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand during a English Premier League match at Loftus Road in October.
The trial date is set for July 9 - eight days after the end of the European Championship in Poland and Ukraine.
Terry will miss tomorrow's Premier League match against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge and a likely meeting with Anton's brother Rio - his longtime partner in the center of England's defense - because of a knee injury which also ruled him out of Chelsea's match at Swansea City last Tuesday.
Rio Ferdinand, who has also captained England in the past and took over as skipper when Terry lost the captaincy for the first time two years ago, said he did not want to be named as his replacement again.
He said on Twitter yesterday: "I don't want to be England captain after the last episode, just want to concentrate on playing for United and if I make the squad then as ever I'll be delighted."
The FA made its decision yesterday, two days after Terry's trial date was announced following an initial magistrates court hearing. In a statement, the FA said: "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.
"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."
Free to select
The FA confirmed he had not been excluded from the squad and that manager Fabio Capello is free to select him for the friendly against the Netherlands at Wembley on February 29 and for the European Championship itself.
FA Chairman David Bernstein spoke to both Terry and Capello to explain the facts to them, the FA said.
It is the second time that Terry has been stripped of the captaincy of the national team in two years. He has played for England 67 times, 34 of them as captain and scored six goals.
He was first relieved of the armband by Capello in February 2010 following allegations of an extra-marital affair, and re-instated as captain last year.
London bookmakers William Hill installed Liverpool's Steven Gerrard as the 8-13 favorite to take over as captain with Terry's Chelsea teammate Frank Lampard rated at 5-1 and Anton's brother Rio at 7-1.
Terry however, will keep his job as Chelsea skipper, his manager said yesterday. "I don't agree with the FA's decision," said Villas-Boas. "The statement from the FA was pretty clear on what was their decision-making. John will continue to be our captain."
The 31-year-old Chelsea center back is awaiting trial after pleading not guilty on Wednesday to a charge of racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand during a English Premier League match at Loftus Road in October.
The trial date is set for July 9 - eight days after the end of the European Championship in Poland and Ukraine.
Terry will miss tomorrow's Premier League match against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge and a likely meeting with Anton's brother Rio - his longtime partner in the center of England's defense - because of a knee injury which also ruled him out of Chelsea's match at Swansea City last Tuesday.
Rio Ferdinand, who has also captained England in the past and took over as skipper when Terry lost the captaincy for the first time two years ago, said he did not want to be named as his replacement again.
He said on Twitter yesterday: "I don't want to be England captain after the last episode, just want to concentrate on playing for United and if I make the squad then as ever I'll be delighted."
The FA made its decision yesterday, two days after Terry's trial date was announced following an initial magistrates court hearing. In a statement, the FA said: "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.
"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."
Free to select
The FA confirmed he had not been excluded from the squad and that manager Fabio Capello is free to select him for the friendly against the Netherlands at Wembley on February 29 and for the European Championship itself.
FA Chairman David Bernstein spoke to both Terry and Capello to explain the facts to them, the FA said.
It is the second time that Terry has been stripped of the captaincy of the national team in two years. He has played for England 67 times, 34 of them as captain and scored six goals.
He was first relieved of the armband by Capello in February 2010 following allegations of an extra-marital affair, and re-instated as captain last year.
London bookmakers William Hill installed Liverpool's Steven Gerrard as the 8-13 favorite to take over as captain with Terry's Chelsea teammate Frank Lampard rated at 5-1 and Anton's brother Rio at 7-1.
Terry however, will keep his job as Chelsea skipper, his manager said yesterday. "I don't agree with the FA's decision," said Villas-Boas. "The statement from the FA was pretty clear on what was their decision-making. John will continue to be our captain."
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