THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LONDON — John Terry was stripped of the England captaincy by coach Fabio Capello on Friday following a media storm over his private life, and will be replaced by Rio Ferdinand.
Capello told Terry of the decision in a brief meeting at Wembley Stadium, a week after the married Chelsea defender lost a High Court battle to ban publication of details of an alleged relationship with England teammate Wayne Bridge’s former girlfriend.
"After much thought, I have made the decision that it will be best for me to take the captaincy away from John Terry," Capello said in a statement. "As a captain with the team, John Terry has displayed extremely positive behaviour.
"However, I have to take into account other considerations and what is best for all of the England squad. What is best for all of the England team has inspired my choice."
The 29-year-old Terry immediately pledged to carry on representing England with four months until the World Cup begins in South Africa.
"I fully respect Fabio Capello’s decision," Terry said. "I will continue to give everything for England."
Vanessa Perroncel, the mother of Bridge’s child and with whom Terry is alleged to have had an affair, has said she will not accept lucrative media offers to sell her story.
"I have a three-year-old son and he is my main concern," the French model said.
Her spokesman, Max Clifford, said: "Vanessa would also like to add that she finds it very sad that John Terry has been dropped as England captain."
Replacing Terry is Ferdinand, who was vice captain, despite concerns over the 31-year-old Manchester United centre back’s fitness and only appearing in four of England’s last 12 matches.
"Congratulations Rio," England striker Darren Bent said on Twitter.
Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard will step up from third choice to be vice captain.
"When I chose John Terry as captain, I also selected a vice captain and also named a third choice. There is no reason to change this decision," Capello said of his decision. "I would like to take this opportunity to thank the FA, particularly Lord David Triesman and Ian Watmore for allowing me to make this decision in my own time and in the best interest of the team."
Ferdinand also has a blot on his character, missing the 2004 European Championship while serving an eight-month ban for failing to show up for a drugs test at United’s training ground.
And the defender is currently serving a four-match ban after the FA found him guilty of elbowing Hull’s Craig Fagan. He has played only two matches since spending three months out with injuries.
Gerrard, meanwhile, was cleared of intentionally attacking a man in a bar in 2008, with a jury accepting his explanation that he acted in self defence in a dispute over music.
England’s next match is a home friendly against African champion Egypt on March 3. A big challenge for Capello is figuring out whether he can play Terry in the same team as Bridge, who is Ashley Cole’s understudy at left back.
Bridge is set to return for Manchester City on Saturday at Hull after two months out with a knee injury. City manager Roberto Mancini told Capello’s assistant Franco Baldini earlier this week that Bridge is going through a time tough, but is ready to play.
"I said it is not a good moment in his head but it’s not a problem on the (City) training ground," Mancini said. "It’s important he can play now and not think about the other person."
English officials were keen for the decision over Terry’s future to be made ahead of Sunday’s qualifying draw for the 2012 European Championship.
But the fallout could potentially overshadow the UEFA event and in turn have negative implications for England’s bid to host the World Cup in 2018 or ’22.
But England’s bid team insists that the coverage of the Terry saga only serves to highlight the interest in the national game.
"With the bid we are selling the passion of football and England — the fact that everyone in England is obsessed with football," bid chief executive Andy Anson said as British Telecom was unveiled as a sponsor. "We are clearly seeing that obsession with the coverage (the Terry story) is getting. It’s a reflection of the absolute fascination people have for English football, which is never a negative for us."