Sir Alex Ferguson believes that the disagreement between England manager Fabio Capello and the FA will end up having a negative effect on the international team, unless the two parties can bury their differences and learn to work together again.
The difference of opinion stems from the FA’s decision to take the captain’s armband from Chelsea defender John Terry until the verdict in his upcoming trial is delivered. Terry faces a charge of racially abusing another defender, QPR’s Anton Ferdinand, and is set to appear in court in July.
Capello has already launched a stinging attack on the FA for taking the step, arguing that Terry is innocent until proven guilty and that the English football authorities are delivering their own justice. But the comments in the media could end up putting the England manager himself in hot water and he has been summoned to appear before the FA to explain why he so publicly disagreed with the organisation’s decision.
Other managers, including Fergie, have been weighing in on the issue, with Terry’s club manager, Andrew Villas-Boas backing Capello for taking a stand and defending one of his player’s against unfair treatment. Villas-Boas added that the England manager had the right to hold an opinion on the matter and shouldn’t be prevented from expressing that opinion by his bosses at the FA.
A meeting between Capello and the FA is set to take place this week to discuss his future as England manager and whether or not he breached his contract by criticising his employers so publicly. The FA’s main problem seems to be that Capello had not told them that he intended to give an interview on the subject to an Italian television company so they were unprepared for the subsequent media storm.
John terry, meanwhile, has been attempting to keep a low profile; his only recent statement has been to the effect that he will continue to play for England even though he is no longer allowed to wear the captain’s armband.