Was Capello right for standing by Terry?

While former England football manager Fabio Capello did a noble thing by standing up for his captain John Terry, he probably shouldn’t have denounced his employers.

Not long after England national side skipper John Terry was stripped of his captain band amid allegations of racism, the team’s manager Fabio Capello resigned after refusing to bow down to the Football Association’s (FA) request that he take back his criticism of how the FA handled the Terry saga.

The Italian coach told an Italian television station that he didn’t approve of Terry’s removal as England captain, as he had not been found guilty yet. “I have spoken to the [FA] chairman [David Bernstein] and I have said that in my opinion one cannot be punished until it is official and the court – a non-sport court, a civil court – had made a decision to decide if John Terry has done what he is accused of.”

While it looks like Terry – who is accused of having racially abused Anton Ferdinand during a match between Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers in October last year – is only guilty by association, there have been mixed reactions in the English media as to whether Capello did the right thing by squaring up to the FA. For starters, no self-respecting manager would have kept quiet when their captain was removed without consultation, and many analysts believe that Capello’s loyalty to Terry is a commendable gesture. However, others believe that the Italian bit off more than he could chew when he spoke against the FA.

Retired former England and Manchester United defender Gary Neville said he wasn’t surprised by Capello’s resignation as “he dug his own grave”. “When you speak out against your employers, you have to go.” England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney tweeted: “Gutted Capello has quit. Good guy and top coach.”

Rooney is among many footballers and commentators who think Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Redknapp is the right man for job of English manager.

SOURCES: www.bbc.co.uk, www.telegraph.co.uk