Capello watches Liverpool v Spurs as many call for his head

Football News 24/7

It is a mark of where Fabio Capello sits in the public physique that he if anything has come out worse for publicly slating the FA on Italian TV for their handling of the John Terry affair. Removing the England captaincy was done without Capello being involved in the meetings held by Club England, the FA sub-section that looks after the national team. They are again meeting this week, and the matter is set to be high on its agenda as Capello hit out at the decision. But such is the lack of support for Capello amongst English fans there was widespread condemnation of the England boss with the majority for once agreeing that the FA got this right.

The FA played down the rift today with an insider commenting; "Everybody else disagrees with the FA, so why shouldn't the England manager?"

Capello made it clear to the FA that he believes "everybody is innocent until proven guilty", and therefore Terry should not be stripped of the captaincy.

The first time the Chelsea captain was sacked as England captain, it was Capello who took the decision and he took it to relieve the pressure on his best centre-back, rather than punish him for the problems his private life would cause in the dressing room. In any case, the FA have no ready-made replacement, and thus cannot consider Capello's position on practical grounds.

Capello expressed his support for Terry because his only motive is to put out the best possible team in the European Championships and has no interest in the politics of English football.

"Fabio told the FA that he did not want John Terry stripped of the captaincy because he wants the best team and believes JT is the best leader on the pitch, that he is the best captain," said a source close to Capello. "However, he understands that it is for the FA to decide, but his feeling is quite straightforward - everybody is innocent until proven guilty, and if guilty then that is a different matter and someone can be punished."

Capello has never believed in the importance that is placed in the England captaincy. He has remained unbowed by press pressure throughout his reign and with a maximum of five months more in the job is unlikely to change that now.

Terry was reinstated as captain in March 2011, having lost it ahead of the 2010 World Cup, where Steven Gerrard led the team as a stand-in, once Rio Ferdinand had succumbed to injury ahead of the tournament. Terry's presence in the England camp was said to be disruptive but instead of choosing to not pick the Chelsea captain, Capello then reinstated him once Ferdinand's injuries began to lessen his availability.

With only five months of Capello's contract left it seems unlikley the FA will act to remove him and all the vibes are that the incident will blow over pretty quickly as England prepare for this month's Wembley friendly againsd the Dutch.

JB