Capello actions dismay PFA chief

Gordon Taylor, head of the Professional Footballers' Association, has called Fabio Capello's criticism of the FA's decision to oust John Terry as England captain "bizarre and disappointing".

Terry, 31, was stripped of the armband pending his trial in July over alleged racial abuse of QPR's Anton Ferdinand.

On Sunday, Capello said he "absolutely" did not agree with the decision.

"I cannot understand why he [Capello] came out so blatantly against the decision," Taylor told BBC Sport.

Speaking to sports news correspondent Dan Roan, Taylor added: "I don't know what purpose it serves... it means there's not the right atmosphere conducive to a successful tournament [the European Championship in June -July].

"It asks a question of the unity of the FA and makes it difficult for whoever takes over the captaincy.

Phil McNulty Chief Football Writer, BBC Sport

It was widely accepted that England coach Fabio Capello was unhappy at the FA's decision to strip John Terry of the captaincy - but to go public with his concerns may be regarded by the hierarchy as unhelpful and likely to prolong the debate.

The FA will not, however, be going back on the decision so Capello must accept it and move on if England's preparations for Euro 2012 are to progress with any degree of calmness.

And of course, Capello's public loyalty and faith in his deposed captain may also be seen as undermining the credibility of his eventual successor.

"The FA's decision was made to take the heat out of the situation, which has festered. It was a decision to focus on the football.

"And if the FA thought that was best for the team you would expect the manager to go with that."

On Sunday, England manager Capello told Italy's state broadcaster RAI he did not believe someone should be punished by sporting authorities before a court had reached a verdict.

"I thought it was right that Terry should keep the captain's armband," said the 65-year-old Italian.

"I have spoken to the [FA] chairman and I have said that in my opinion one cannot be punished until it is official and the court - a non-sport court, a civil court - had made a decision to decide if John Terry has done what he is accused of."

And it has emerged that in making his comments Capello may have breached his contract by publicly criticising the Football Association on the matter.

Former FA executive director David Davies told the BBC the FA was taking "the matter very seriously".

Capello, whose first game in charge was on 6 February, 2008 against Switzerland, is set to meet FA chairman David Bernstein this week, but it is understood that the Italian is keen to remain in charge for Euro 2012, which takes place in Poland and Ukraine this summer.

Davies, who left the FA a year and a half before Capello was hired, added: "There is strong leadership now at the FA from David Bernstein.

"Last week, he wasn't slow to take things forward and he may not be slow to do so now."

Davies told the BBC that the former Real Madrid and AC Milan manager's outspoken actions have frustrated his employer.

More than three-quarters of fans surveyed by a university backed the decision to strip John Terry of the England captaincy. Staffordshire University surveyed 1,000 visitors to a range of football websites. As well as 78% backing the FA's decision over Terry, 34% believed he should be in England's Euro 2012 squad. Steven Gerrard was the firm favourite to take over as captain, with 44%, followed by Scott Parker 12% and Joe Hart 9%. 87% of respondents to the university's survey at www.topfan.co.uk were male, while researchers say all parts of the country were represented.

"My understanding - and I've talked to one or two very senior people at the FA in the last 24 hours - is that this matter with Capello is regarded very seriously," he said.

"He may well have breached his contract. There is a view that publicly this sort of matter shouldn't be aired in this sort of way.

"It will be for others to know the fine print of Capello's contract and I suspect people will look at it."

Former FA chief executive Mark Palios believes the FA may have caused disunity in the England camp by opting to remove Terry as skipper.

Palios said he doubted that Capello would be removed from his post, adding: "I would think the FA will do nothing on that because we're close to a tournament and you don't want to have a real fight with the manager."

And former England international John Barnes felt Capello had been undermined by the FA's move.

"The FA was wrong," Barnes told BBC Sport. "You cannot say he [Terry] can be in the squad but he cannot be captain."