COMMENT: It's time to rid ourselves of Fabio Capello

Fabio Capello hasn't been the most popular of England football managers, and far from the best, but, with his comments about John Terry and the captaincy he has, it seems, broken his contract with the F.A. and should be sacked immediately.

Fabio Capello has been England manager for 4 years now. He followed in the wake of the lamentable Steve McClaren and so, in comparison, a rotting pig's head would have been able to do a better job.

In his time as manager, which, let's be honest, is really a very part-time job, he's been pocketing a whacking £6 million pounds per year (yes, £6 million part-time, not pro rata) but hasn't found the time to learn English in order to be able to talk to the press or instruct the team without reliance on a translator.

Also in his time, England have qualified for two major tournaments. For a strong footballing nation, qualification should be the default. The team have given many poor performances, struggled to beat mediocre and poor teams and were a disgrace in the 2010 World Cup.

Yesterday, he was interviewed by Italian TV and said he was unhappy that the FA had removed the captaincy from John Terry, who has been charged with racially abusing a fellow player last October.

Hang on a minute, Mr. Capello, in any other workplace if a worker was accused of racially abusing a co-worker he'd be suspended until the matter was resolved. It is an outrage that Terry, a disposable character, has been allowed to hang on to the captaincy so long, and it is,similarly, monstrous that he is still being selected by Chelsea, the tea news playing for when the alleged offence took place.

many will argue that the British legal system means that John Terry is innocent until proven guilty. That is true. Until the case is heard in court we have to assume Terry's innocence and it is the role of the prosecution to prove his guilt in the matter, but in employment law when a serious allegation like this is made a suspension comes into operation.

Capello's support for Terry is bizarre. he selected him as his full-time skipper but had to take away the captain's armband when Terry had, shall we say, issues in his private life that unsettled the England changing room. In his place, Capello appointed known drug cheat Rio Ferdinand, but, as soon as he could here-appointed Terry. Why on earth would you do that? According to reports Terry is as unpopular on terraces as he is with the team.

Capello's contract ends this summer and he's already said he's off after the Euro 2012 championships. It's very likely that he's broken the terms of his contract with a very public criticism of his employers but, even if he hasn't, I think it's time to replace him with a new manager.

Who will the new manager be? Well, the tabloid's favourite, Harry Redk app, would seem as much of a liability as Terry Venables was. He may not be everyone's first choice, but I'd choose Ray Wilkins - calm, experienced and a master tactician.

As for Capello, who cares. he's been very poor. Even if he hasn't breached his contract (I smaintain there's a very good chance he has) the pay off now would be very small. It's time to look to the future.

Ciao bella, Fabio!



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John Terry's punishment:
http://pimpmycadence.blogspot.com/2012/02/opinion-john-terrys-punishment.html

John Terry's racism charge:
http://pimpmycadence.blogspot.com/2012/02/comment-john-terrys-racism-charge.html

Racism in the UK:
http://pimpmycadence.blogspot.com/2011/12/opnion-racism-in-uk.html

OPINION: John Terry's punishment

The fact the maximum penalty John Terry can receive for his race hate is a fine of £2,500 highlights a couple of issues which parliament need to address.

1) Race hate crimes need to have more serious punishments. A fine of £2,500 is simply not sufficient.

2) Fines need to be as a percentage of income/worth NOT a flat tariff for everyone. £2,500 is a month's salary for many. For John Terry it is less than a morning's work. This is wrong.

3) Court cases cost a lot and, currently, this is paid by the tax payer. Court costs SHOULD be recouped from the guilty.

4) Any crime which has an anti-social element, as the race hate charges Terry has been accused of, must have a custodial sentence. Anti-social behaviour means you should give up your place in society for a fixes period of time.

5) This isn't Terry's first scrape with the legal system. Clearly his previous punishments were insufficient. Two strikes and you're out, now matter what the crime is.

COMMENT: John Terry's racism charge

Today John Terry found that the trial for his alleged use of racist insults against Antonio Ferdinand won't take place until 9th July - just over a week after the Euro 2012 Championships have finished.

Terry has pleaded not guilty to making racist comments in a match between Chelsea and QPR last October. Today, in the Magistrates' Court, he pleaded "not guilty".

Now I realise and accept that, as the law stands, John Terry is currently innocent until proved otherwise. Howev, the police have investigated the accusations and the Criwn Prosecution Service have decided, based on that investigatin, that Terry has a case to answer.

Yes, the fact he has a case to answer doesn't stop him being innocent.It just means he has a case to answer.

But, should Terry go to Poland/Ukraine in June to represent England in the Euro 2012 Championships and, if he does go, should he still captain the England team (a position he only regained in March 2011 having been stripped of it a year earlier due to "troubles" in his private life)?

Personally, I think there are many issues that are raised if Terry is selected and goes:

1. What about his relationship with Les Ferdinand (Antonio Ferdinand's brother) who is likely to be in the England squad?

2. What of the FA's "KICK RACISM INTO TOUCH" campaign?

3. Will Terry's mind be on football or his impending court case?

4. Will he have the support of other black players in the squad?

5. What effect will it have on the FA's credibility?

I'm undecided. I strongly support the notion of innocent until proven guilty but I do wonder whether Terry's inclusion in the squad, let alone being captain, raises too many questions. It's not as if he has an unblemished past - there are several incidents in his past that make him an unsuitable ambassador for the country on the international stage.

I suspect the FA will somehow manage to fudge the issue... and hope he picks up a metatarsal injury in April/May that will prevent him going!