Capello hits out at FA over Terry decision

Fabio Capello has hit out at the Football Association’s decision to remove the England captaincy from John Terry.

The FA’s move on Friday came after confirmation the Chelsea centre-back’s court case, in which he faces allegations of racial abuse towards QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, had been adjourned until July 9, a week after Euro 2012 ends.

Speaking about the decision for the first time, Capello revealed he has voiced his disapproval to FA chairman David Bernstein and believes the call should have been made after Terry’s trial had finished.

“I do not agree with that decision,” Capello told Rai1.

“I also talked with the chairman, saying that I think Terry can’t be sanctioned until a court, a civil court not the sport one, judge him guilty or not about what he is accused of. That’s why I think Terry should keep the captaincy.”

Despite being stripped of the role following a telephone conversation with Bernstein on Friday morning, the FA confirmed Terry is available to play for England in subsequent friendlies, as well as in Euro 2012.

Terry had previously been removed as captain in February 2010 after allegations of having an affair with team-mate Wayne Bridge’s ex-girlfriend, before being reinstated by Capello in March 2011.

Rio Ferdinand, who had been named as permanent captain after Terry was removed in 2010, has already ruled himself out of filling the role once again.