It’s been a tough few months for the English Football Association. After coming under scrutiny for the way they were handling the investigation into Patrice Evra’s allegation against Luis Suarez, the last thing they needed is the John Terry and Anton Ferdinand case which only served to compound their misery and intensify the spotlight on the governing body’s attitude to racism in the sport.
Thankfully for the FA the Police intervened and made the Ferdinand/Terry issue a criminal investigation, temporarily relieving them of making a decision either way. There were still question marks over the way the FA handled the Suarez case but after they conducted a thorough review and released the findings in a document that lasted over 100 pages long, those question marks were always likely to come from the party that felt that it had been “wronged” in the verdict.
I may have courted controversy last week by airing my opinion about the way Liverpool have conducted themselves throughout the Suarez affair but one thing I have maintained is that although I agreed with the verdict that he was guilty, I didn’t think that made him inherently racist, and I actually concurred to a large extent with the Uruguayan’s “cultural difference” defence.
I didn’t necessarily think that line of defence excused him; yet in no circumstances whatsoever does John Terry have any kind of defence in a “misunderstanding” scenario. Lipreading experts may be able to tell you what he said; Ferdinand has been quite clear with his thoughts by telling the police. But Terry cannot go down the Suarez route, which in comparison, seems quite understandable.
The issue here then lies with how the FA, Chelsea and Terry go forward.
The FA have been able to dodge one bullet by the altercation becoming a criminal investigation yet Terry’s stature in the England set up left them with an unavoidable scenario whereby they had to make a stand, especially under such intense media speculation.
So they made a decision that was criticised by journalists even though they were in a no-win situation; yes, they may have made a decision that perhaps undermined Fabio Capello by removing Terry once again as captain of the national side, but in some ways they were on a hiding to nothing.
Capello is bowing out after the tournament and England need to be seen to make a stand; it is perhaps of no consequence or matter to the Italian that the long term situation is sorted out quickly, and it may well be the case that whoever gets the armband for the championships will not retain it on a permanent basis.
It has indeed been speculated about in the media about the actual integrity of the Three Lions armband yet despite the potential fact of the national captaincy being a symbol of pride being outdated, it remains a national talking point and so, under the spotlight of the nation, Terry’s successor will inevitably come under a considerable amount of attention.
Under Sven Goran Eriksson, the armband was passed around so much that when David Beckham wasn’t wearing it, it became meaningless. After Terry was originally stripped of the honour, Rio Ferdinand was given it, only for it to be removed after doubts over the Manchester United defenders form and long term fitness. Terry was recalled and the debacle resumed after Chelsea’s trip to Loftus Road in the early winter of 2011/12.
The bookies favourite is Steven Gerrard. Gerrard - who many believe should have gotten the armband when David Beckham originally stepped down after the 2006 World Cup - is back in the Liverpool first team yet doubts remain over his long term sustainability. Meanwhile, Scott Parker - he who has only just gotten a proper run in the side, and squad for that matter - is up there alongside Gareth Barry and Joe Hart as contenders.
The suspension that rules Wayne Rooney out of the first two group games of Euro 2012 seems to have also ruled him out of contention, yet he seems the most obvious candidate. Forever identified as an England captain of the future, Rooney is 26 and his time is surely now - if he is the wrong man for the job, that will show itself under his potential leadership.
Even taking into account his suspension, shunning him for the armband even if only on a “captain for the tournament” basis might prove counter productive. As well it might for whoever gets the captaincy if it is on such a short term basis.
The FA have been under fire for the way they have dealt with many issues over the last 10 years - over the next 6 or 7 months they have a wonderful opportunity to begin to repair some of the reputation that has been tarnished over that decade. Will they? It’s a question that only time will proivde the answer to.