Outspoken Fabio Capello Criticises the FA’s Handling of John Terry

Fabio Capello has publicly criticised the Football Association's decision to revoke the England captaincy from Chelsea defender John Terry.

The Italian's direct challenge to the authority of his employers, coming just two days after their decision to strip the aforementioned Chelsea stalwart of the captaincy for a second time, not only suggests he is in open conflict with the FA but has perhaps placed his England managerial future in doubt.

Terry was deposed on Friday as a consequence of his trial, for allegedly racially abusing Anton Ferdinand, being delayed until 9 July which is eight days after the EURO 2012 final.

The trial had been expected to have been concluded prior to the tournament in Poland in the Ukraine, but having been informed of the date of Terry's case, the FA ruled that the Chelsea captain could not be allowed to lead England given the severity of the charges. Capello was not involved in the decision to remove Terry.

Capello is due to meet the FA's chairman, David Bernstein, later this week in order to personally express his dissatisfaction over their handling of the affair, but the Italian's opinion is already well known following his interview in Italy on Sunday night.

"I completely disagree with the FA about the John Terry decision and I have told that to the chairman" Capello said on the Italian television station Rai 1, as published in the Daily Mail.

"I spoke to the chairman and I told him that I don't think someone can be punished until it becomes official,

"The court will decide. It's going to be civil justice, not sports justice, to decide if John Terry committed the crime he is accused of. I thought it fair that John Terry keeps the captain's armband."

Bernstein spoke with Capello on Friday following the Football Association's decision to demote Terry on the grounds of "the higher profile nature of the England captaincy, on and off the pitch, and the additional demands and requirements expected of the captain leading into and during a tournament".

The FA's statement on Friday claimed Capello "understands that the FA board has the authority to make this decision" and although that may be the case, the Italian has now chosen to publicly lambast their handling of the escalating Terry case.

The Daily Telegraph claims there are some members within the Football Association that would like to see Capello sacked prior to the tournament in June and before the expiry of his contract in July, and esteemed football journalist Henry Winter suggests 'Capello could walk or be dismissed' unless a truce can be called.

Although the aforementioned source intimates Capello's position as England manager looks increasingly untenable, The Guardian suggests the Italian is not considering his future.

John Terry is accused of abusing Ferdinand, the younger brother of Manchester United and England defender Rio, during Chelsea's 1-0 defeat to QPR at Loftus Road on 23 October. Terry denies the allegation.