Terry had found himself
increasingly under pressure
after revelations that he had
an affair with the ex-
girlfriend of former team-
mate Wayne Bridge.
Capello issued the following
statement: "After much
thought, I have made the
decision that it will be best
for me to take the captaincy
away from John Terry. 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. John Terry was
notified first. 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.
"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."
Capello arrived back in
England on Thursday having
already felt that it would be
right to strip Terry of the
England captaincy. The
England boss, though,
wanted to wait to see Terry
to make the final
assessment, get Terry's
side of events and to gauge
the situation in a face-to-
face meeting.
Terry was summoned to
Capello's office on Friday
afternoon after training, and
the Italian would have heard
that the Chelsea captain was
willing to stand down for the
good of the team ethic.
Soccernet has been informed
that Fabio Capello spent 35
minutes with John Terry and
told the Chelsea captain that
he has to step down as
captain, but he remains an
integral part of the England
team. A source revealed: "It
is wrong the reports that
suggest the meeting took
just 12 minutes, it was half
an hour at least.
"Fabio Capello did not make
up his mind at this meeting,
he has had a week to think
about it, and he felt this was
the right decision for
everyone. Fabio's only
concern is the good of the
England team and their
chances of winning the World
Cup, and John Terry shares
these views. John Terry was
absolutely determined and
focused on playing for
England and helping the team
to try to win the World Cup.
He fully understood the
decision after everything
that had happened to him,
and he accepted it."
Capello clearly felt it was a
sound solution to the major
storm that has been brewing
over Terry's private life that
impacted on Wayne Bridge.
As soon as he was briefed
by his trusted aide Franco
Baldini, the England manager
knew that the decision would
have to go against Terry.
Rio Ferdinand will step up
from vice-captain to take the
armband from John Terry for
the next match against Egypt
on March 3 and will most
likely be on trial for the
position in South Africa, with
Steven Gerrard taking the
vice-captain role.