HOPE not hate blog: Remove the England captaincy from John Terry

Remove the England captaincy from John Terry

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Wednesday, 21 December 2011, 21:10

Racism in football is back in the news this week with the eight match ban handed down to Liverpool’s Luis Suarez for racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrick Evra and, today, the news that John Terry is facing criminal prosecution for allegedly racially abusing QPR's Anton Ferdinand.

The Football Association is just as much in the dock as its reputation and credibility is scrutinised at home and abroad. The stakes were raised last month when the FA spoke out at the apparent indifference towards racism in football by FIFA boss Sepp Blatter, after he claimed that racial abuse on the field could be dealt with by a handshake after the game.

The FA appear to have handled the Suarez case in accordance with the rules and appear only to have come to their judgement after much deliberation. It is sad that Suarez’s Liverpool team-mates and manager rallied round him without even slightest concern of his guilt. Wearing T-shirts in support of him undermines efforts to stamp out racism within the game. Let us just hope that at some stage in the future these same Liverpool players, who appear so quick to jump to Suarez’s defence, are not left annoyed with players of a rival team who rally round someone who has abused one of their own.

The John Terry incident raises even more serious questions. Obviously he is innocent until proven guilty, but it seems totally inappropriate for him to remain England captain whilst criminal charges hang over him. He was stripped of the captaincy after a Sunday newspaper exposed an extra-material affair so it would only seem correct that he is once again forced to stand down as captain while charges of using racist language exist.

English football has done much to rid itself of racism over the last fifteen years and we can rightly boast to have the most pro-active national football association on this issue anywhere in Europe. The FA should act decisively over John Terry’s captaincy rather than be forced to act later under pressure. How can we seem to lecture other countries and FIFA if they fail to deal with this issue swiftly? If John Terry is found not guilty then he can regain the captaincy at some future date. If he has the interests of the game, and indeed the national team, at heart then he will also want to step aside as soon as possible.

Posted: 21 Dec 2011 | There are 9 comments

Comments

Comment 1 | From: AF | Date: 21 December 2011, 22:12

While I feel resignation is an absolute must if found guilty, are we not being a bit presumptuous here? I dob't believe his life should be put on standby until the matter is resolved, if it results in a guilty verdict then he absolutely must go and will, but demanding immediate resignation because the CPS would like to bring it to trial is a bit keen. Let justice take it's course.

Comment 2 | From: Leigh Cammack | Date: 21 December 2011, 22:21

Horrible man.

Comment 3 | From: Richard Jones | Date: 22 December 2011, 10:14

I agree with AF, these are allegations only, it would be odd to punish anyone before allegations are proved. Also from a legal point of view, completely Non Human Rights Act compliant. We don't want do go down that road, do we?

Comment 4 | From: Mal Ferguson | Date: 22 December 2011, 12:27

Liverpool do not support Suarez "without even slightest concern of his guilt" - and it is facile and insulting to suggest as much. Until the panel actually publishes the grounds for its decision, we cannot simply assume that Suarez is a racist, who has no grounds for appeal. Those who know Suarez best are all adamant that this mixed-race player is not a racist. I suspect that this case (and the verdict) is not clear cut and I recommend that we should all refrain from throwing mud until the details of the verdict are published.

Comment 5 | From: yupyup | Date: 22 December 2011, 22:07

Sorry but your so wrong in Suarezs case.The case ended by the FA taking the word of one player against another in no walks of life should that or does that happen,more so when one has cried wolf on more than one occasion. Suarez was used as a scapegoat by the FA and when you consider the amount of people who know him claiming in noway is he racist,it shows the FA up for what they are,

Comment 6 | From: chris | Date: 23 December 2011, 08:03

i dont believe john terry is a racist ask any of his teammates. my opinion is that man u are behind this via the ferdinand bro's rio is still smarting at losing the national captaincy and what better way to put your rivals out of sync

Comment 7 | From: Matty | Date: 24 December 2011, 12:28

"It is sad that Suarez’s Liverpool team-mates and manager rallied round him without even slightest concern of his guilt." What nonsense, Liverpool FC are one of the few parties that have had access to the evidence in this case. They clearly think that Suarez is innocent. "The FA appear to have handled the Suarez case in accordance with the rules and appear only to have come to their judgement after much deliberation." Really, are you saying that the FA panel was infallible and that there is no need to publish the evidence then? I won't be condemning Suarez just yet.

Comment 8 | From: Mal Ferguson | Date: 28 December 2011, 07:31

"It is sad that Suarez’s Liverpool team-mates and manager rallied round him without even slightest concern of his guilt." This statement is false and potentially libellous. It is clear - from the official statement released by the club and from everything the managers and (current and former) players have said since - that the issue of guilt or innocence is of the greatest concern. There are serious concerns with the validity of the verdict in the Suarez case, which will become clearer when the FA finally decide to release the reasons for their verdict and thus allow an appeal to begin. Your comments glibly ignore these concerns and casually accuse everyone at the club of condoning racism. This is unhelpful, as it undermines your own credibility. (I should also add that it's worrying that I pointed this out two weeks ago, in a comment which - unlike the two comments supporting your personal views - has not been published.)

Comment 9 | From: SK | Date: 2 February 2012, 10:33

In many fields of employment particularly public service he would be suspended until the outcome of the trial is known. I do not want someone who has possibly made racist comments representing this country

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