Capello on a collision course with FA on Terry

Europe Sun (IANS) Monday 6th February, 2012

Italian Fabio Capello's future as the England manager is doubtful after he criticised Football Association (FA) decision to strip Chelsea defender John Terry of national team captaincy.

Capello told Italian television 'Rai' that he disagreed with the removal of Terry as skipper, as the Chelsea defender awaits trial on a charge of racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand during a Premier League fixture in October.

"I spoke with the FA chairman and I told him that I don't think someone can be punished until it becomes official," Capello told the Italian state broadcaster Rai.

"The court will decide. It's going to be civil justice, not sports justice, to decide if John Terry committed that crime that he is accused of. And I thought it fair that John Terry keeps the captain's armband."

Terry pleaded not guilty to the charges at a hearing last week and his trial was set for July 9, eight days after the end of Euro 2012.

Capello received the news of Terry's removal via phone Friday from FA's chairman David Bernstein, who said that the board took the decision 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 Italian is due to meet Bernstein and other FA officials at Wembley. Capello's contract expires in July and he has made it clear that he would be quitting his post after the Euro Championship.