For Terry, this has led him to apparently, according to the BBC, tell sources that he will not step down. Yesterday, Jason Roberts said that he should not be at Euro 2012 because of the problems it will cause for the England squad.
Roberts has a point. Terry may well be innocent of all charges. He may be vindicated as far as he can possibly be. But whether that happens or not, his presence in the England squad has become a divisive, toxic issue it would seem from the outside. Surely he cannot hang on to his place in such circumstances?
It was of course just two years ago when Terry caused divisions when revelations of an affair he had with Vanessa Peroncell, the former girlfriend and mother of Wayne Bridge’s baby, become public. Then many were angry with him and his involvement caused problems in the build up to the World Cup.
The same thing cannot be allowed to happen with the European Championships if England are to have a hope of winning. And we don’t have much of one anyway.
It would be wise for Fabio Capello to remove him from the squad now rather than wait. His presence is divisive and for the sake of harmony a team must be built which does not have disunity. That is without even getting onto his footballing ability, which has never been open to as much question.
Terry has been poor for Chelsea this year and his lack of pace is a real issue. Leadership he may still be able to boast, but surely not in an England squad divided by his very presence? If Terry’s main quality is made irrelevant by the reported lack of respect his team mates have for him, then what is the point of him being there?
Capello is crafting a new team. The likes of Jack Wilshere, Danny Welbeck, Daniel Sturridge and Josh McEachran will form the new England, centred around the experience and tactical intelligence of Scott Parker. Terry will become increasingly peripheral in the years to come.
The Italian will want to leave England fans with a positive memory of his tenure – i.e. a trophy. To do that, he will be best served by leaving Terry at home during the European Championships. The number of people who want him there is rapidly decreasing, irrespective of whether he is guilty of racism or not. Hopefully Capello will join them.
