FABIO CAPELLO has received the backing of Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson but is looking increasingly isolated within the English Football Association amid growing criticism of his public opposition to the removal of the England captaincy from John Terry.
Ferguson expressed sympathy for the Italian, describing it as a “difficult situation” and reiterating his belief that managers should not be undermined by the people above them. But his was a lone voice as another day passed without anyone from the FA speaking publicly or privately in Capello’s defence.
The lack of support is revealing at a time when Capello’s position is under scrutiny and there are FA figures who are uncertain whether they want him to continue until the European Championship.
Gordon Taylor, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association, called Capello’s stance “bizarre and disappointing”.
The British sports minister, Hugh Robertson, backed the FA’s decision to demote Terry now the Chelsea player’s trial for allegedly racially abusing QPR’s Anton Ferdinand has been put back until July 9th, eight days after the Euro 2012 final.
Taylor believes Capello’s criticisms “ask a question of the unity of the FA and make it difficult for whoever takes over the captaincy”.
Robertson said it would be “extraordinarily difficult for John Terry, fabulous footballer and great captain that he is, to discharge that responsibility in the white heat of this sort of publicity during the European Championships”.
He added of the Euro 2012 tournament: “I don’t think there’s any way John Terry could have carried out the considerable duties that are required of the national captain with this sort of thing going on in the background.
“Every single press conference, every single appearance, everything the England team had done during those Euros would have had that as a backdrop.”
Capello had already been scheduled for talks with the FA chairman, David Bernstein, today and Ferguson believes the two men need to speak as a matter of urgency.
“There has to be some communication regarding the thing,” said Ferguson, who sympathised with Capello on the basis that “when you are the manager of a team and you have a captain who is an important part of that team you don’t want to lose that”.
Terry denies the allegations and Capello’s argument is that the FA’s stance went against an innocent-until-proven-guilty principle.
Ferguson said the manager should be “the most important person” but also spoke of the authorities needing to take decisive action at a time when there is clear evidence the problem of racism in football has resurfaced.
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has just completed his eight-match ban for calling Patrice Evra “negro”, in Spanish, during an argument on the pitch when United played at Anfield last October.
A supporter was arrested for allegedly impersonating a monkey when Evra returned to Anfield two weekends ago and an Oldham Athletic player, Tom Adeyemi, was brought close to tears because of apparent racial abuse during an FA Cup tie against Liverpool last month.
“There have been a couple of examples recently, which is not good,” Ferguson said. “In 2012 you can’t believe it. I don’t understand where it is coming from. This is a moment when we have to take stock. We should do something about it if it’s surfacing again and really be hard and firm on any form or shape of racism.”
Guardian Service
