When commentating legend John Motson was interviewed on the BBC’s Final Score programme over the festive period, his New Year wish was that we would all be talking about on the pitch matters, not alleged racism and tax trials. Sorry to disappoint you Motty, but we’re barely six weeks into 2012 and already England’s preparations for the European Championship have been derailed!
Whilst tournament favourites Spain and Germany have only the return to fitness of respective key players David Villa and Bastian Schweinsteiger to worry about, the FA has managed to stab itself in the foot in a manner which only the Home Nation of football possibly could. It seems two years on from the last scandal before the World Cup that no lessons have been learnt.
Snowball effect
It might be stating the obvious, but treating the claims that England centre back John Terry racially abused Anton Ferdinand when Chelsea met QPR in the Premier League in October with gravity is about the only facet of this debacle which can be praised. Requesting that the case be heard after Euro 2012 and nine months after the alleged incident took place was a move by the Stamford Bridge lawyers that has very much blown up in the face of the club’s captain.
Terry is innocent until proven guilty, but to avoid potential embarrassment, the FA and its chairman David Bernstein moved behind manager Fabio Capello’s back and stripped him of the national armband. England’s association has undermined the Italian’s authority and the response from him was to openly and publicly criticize the actions of the hierarchy.
Now it is claimed that Capello may have breached his contract after making such comments. One panicked reaction from the FA based on nothing concrete, as we’ve yet to hear the evidence let alone the outcome of the Terry race trial, and they have alienated the manager and may have tempted the Three Lions’ deposed leader on the pitch to hang up his boots at international level.
Do as I say not as I do
England certainly know to capitulate well before a ball has even been kicked at a major tournament! The irony of the whole sorry affair is that the same association is currently drawing up guidelines on appropriate conduct and behaviour for players within the international fold. How can the FA stand atop its soapbox in Soho Square and preach about the right way to act when they have mishandled this situation so spectacularly?
With common sense seemingly lacking in both those who play the beautiful game and those who run it, satirists should have a field day. Perhaps the events of the last week aptly demonstrate the fine line between comedy and tragedy. Terry, not for the first time cutting a controversial figure, has been replaced at the eye of the storm by an outraged Capello. Who can say how much more damage this row will do to the bid to bring a trophy back from Poland and the Ukraine?
I can’t predict the future, but I’m going to take an educated guess at what will happen over the next six months. England will go to Euro 2012, with or without Terry as that decision lies in his own hands, and they will come back with nothing. The usual inquest into what went wrong will then start and the blame should be found to rest with the FA that is there to support its national team not interfere with its affairs in the knee-jerk fashion it has here.
Criticism of Capello will come if Terry opts not to retire and is selected because there is a body of thought that suggests, whether he racially abused Ferdinand or not, he has become a divisive figure in the camp. Chelsea could also be culpable for their successful attempt at self-expediency. Their attitude of nothing must disrupt the season implies that the football club is in some way bigger than a human rights issue for people to live free from prejudice. That view is misguided.
Next step
The future is scarcely more encouraging with England manager-elect Harry Redknapp currently on trial for alleged tax evasion. A new man coming into the hotseat is certain as Capello will not renew his contract after Euro 2012 and, if he had even the smallest change of heart, the decision to leave the post has surely been set in stone after the Terry controversy.
A lack of outstanding alternative candidates leaves the Three Lions putting all their eggs in one basket. The FA seems to like the question ‘what if’ though, if their handling of Terry is anything to go by, so what if Redknapp is found guilty of cheating the public revenue? Again they could find themselves up the creek without a paddle.
Final thoughts
Nothing ever seems to run smoothly when it comes to the England national football team. You wonder if other countries look at the Three Lions and laugh at the way they implode before a competition. This consistent hampering from within may make the wait for major honours go on.
Rifts between the hierarchy and management and coaches and players are not a phenomenon entirely confined to the British Isles though. For years we’ve been led to believe the bitter rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid scuppered Spanish success on the international stage, but that animosity from club football has been suspended in recent times. At the last World Cup the French players revolted against Raymond Domenech and his astrologically-based tactics.
Unity takes time to build, but can be destroyed in a moment as evidenced by the last few days. England, and when I say England I mean the players, coaching staff and executives, all need to communicate properly with one another and think calmly and objectively before acting to stop these sorts of decisions from spiralling out of control in future.
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