FA 'right to strip Terry of captaincy'

0 Comments

5 February 2012-PA Sport

Right decision ... England's former captain John Terry (Getty Images)

Former Football Association chairman Lord Triesman has welcomed the decision to strip John Terry of the England captaincy while he is facing allegations of racist abuse, insisting it is the same sanction any other public figure would face.

Capello looking for new leader

FA chairman David Bernstein called Terry to inform him of the board's decision, which came 48 hours after it was confirmed his trial for allegedly racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand would be held on July 9, after Euro 2012.

Terry denies the charge.

"I think the decision was inevitable and I'm very pleased and a bit relieved David Bernstein has taken that decision," Triesman told Radio Five.

"The only anxiety I have is it's taken rather too long to get to this point.

"The truth is you have a serious allegation, not proved yet of course. But in most organisations it would mean you simply could not go on as you were for this length of time.

"I sometimes think football is in a bit of a bubble and the things that happen in the rest of the world don't apply to football. Well, I'm afraid they do.

"If someone is charged with what is a significant criminal offence, I think that is probably the moment that almost every organisation would act.

"I suspect most people when faced with this kind of difficulty do conclude they should stand down and clear their name. That is a significant preoccupation."