4 Feb 2012

Steve Nicol slams FA over John Terry England fiasco

Liverpool legend Steve Nicol has slammed the FA's decision to strip Chelsea's John Terry of the England captaincy.

Terry is currently awaiting trial for the alleged racial abuse of QPR's Anton Ferdinand, and although he is innocent until proven guilty, the FA has take action that could be construed as a punishment.

Speaking on ESPN, Nicol was clearly incensed by the decision:

"Are you kidding me?! It was the wrong decision. Nothing has been proven, and if he's found not guilty, how silly are these guys going to look?

"This is typical of a bunch of guys who feel they have to do something, and go ahead and do it; and when do you that, it's normally something that's just stupid..

"It's a nightmare. They're just asking for trouble when the European Championships come along and the Press will have a ball".


Irrespective of the video evidence available, it is absolutely true to say that nothing has been proven *as a matter of fact* yet. Terry might be uniformly loathed by many non-Chelsea fans, but he's still entitled to be treated fairly, and in this situation, the FA has basically convicted Terry and thrown him to the wolves.

Terry is rumoured to be considering abandoning the England set-up altogether, and Nicol thinks that would be the best thing to do. He said:

"Quite honestly, they're hanging John Terry out to dry, and If I was him, I'd say 'thanks very much, but I won't be there' [at the European Championship]".

I'm not a fan of John Terry, but I feel the same way about his situation as I do/did about the Suarez-Evra issue: sanctions should not be imposed until guilt is unequivocally proven.

Jaimie Kanwar


51 comments:

  1. i hate him myself/
    he has no morals.
    it was chelsea who asked for the trial to go through after the tournament. well if you are determined to clear your name why wait. i think the f.a. had to act and agree totally ib the best interest of the squad. personally id love it if  he was kicked out of team but that would not be fair.

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  2. Nicol needs to understand what the word IF means!

    Its the wrong decision only because the FA needed to tell Cappello that Terry couldn't play for England until his name was cleared. That's after the Euro 2012. 

    Does he really think terry is innocent? And how are England supposed to bond a great team spirit during the tournament when quite frankly the Black England International players probably won't give Terry the time of day.

    Another point if you read Dalgish's book he mentioned the two dimmest player's on the team where Ronnie Whelan and Steve Nicol.

    I see something's haven't changed.

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  3. Don't agree. When such a serious criminal charge is the concern here, it is right, in my view, that he should be removed as captain. 

    In other professions, he would be suspended from all work duties at least until a conclusion is made. 

    Yes, this is football but its not as if John Terry has been banned from England duty. He has been removed as captain and that is the least the FA should do, in my view. In any other profession, this would be unfair as they would want him suspended from all duties, not just as captain. So in some ways, he is a very lucky boy.

    If they want the England captain role to mean something and how it effects the squad, than anything that undermines this should be dealt with, with a firm hand. 

    Got no sympathy at all. Not because I don't like him but because a criminal charge is a serious matter.

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  4. i dont believe everything people tell me especially daglish after the way he handled the suarez affair.

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  5. ...'sanctions should not be imposed until guilt unequivocally proven.' Suarez wasn't afforded that 'luxury' either.

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  6. I agree with you Jaimie, I'm not Terry's biggest fan but in this country you are innocent until proven guilty. I read Brian Woolnoughs column today (I absolutely cannot stand that man and think he is guilty of sensationalism every week of the highest order) an he said it was good Terry was sacked and that the media would have had a field day at te Euro's. It's like this though, the media would have known all along that Terry is up in court and what he is being accused of. Why the field day almost a year later???? Because a lot of the British media is poisonous and always always seems to try to sell papers through controversy and wrecking people's lives. This case could surely have been dealt with earlier then July, that would be the easiest solution. People get tried a day after being charged sometimes and all of the evidence must be collected. It doesn't make sense to leave it also because the full squad will have an opinion on this, some will be in camp Ferdinand, and some will be in Camp Terry. If Terry gets found guilty then this won't happen, because he won't go to the Euro's, if he is found innocent then people would have to shut up.

    On a side note, I would rather Suarez have been tried civilly, especially when racism is supposed to be fought against, which means you are being tried beyond reasonable doubt, instead of probability, it shows the importance an that it's taken seriously instead of the kangaroo court we had.

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  7. Are you saying kenny is a liar

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  8. 'he would be suspended from all work duties until a conclusion I made - he wouldn't necessarily though mate, it's a weird situation. He isn't being accused by a work mate (you'd be suspended in that instance) he is being accused by someone else. If I was accused of racism and the police investigated it I wouldn't be suspended from my job. An I doubt many people would. It's a really weird situation that I don't think can be replicated in anything other then a team sport.

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  9. FA haven't said he is guilty.

    I view this removal of his captaincy as in the same vain as a work suspension given to a employee prior to a legal matter being resolved/concluded. 

    Don't see where the drama is here. 

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  10. I've known a few incidents where a employee is suspended until a criminal legal matter is resolved. This suspension is a result of a internal investigation. Doesn't necessarily have to be that the business believe he/she is guilty. Sometimes to preserve the 'business image', effecting business trading, effecting the employee's ability to work to their ability, how it effects colleagues working relationships, etc. Has to be 'fair' and 'reasonable'. 
    Its not rare at all from what I know.A google search throws up quite a few cases regarding such 'suspensions'.

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  11. I just wish the FA would run a trial on him ASAP, so they could show the 'same' justice towards him as towards Suarez!!

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  12. I meant the situation can't be replicated in many jobs with regards to breaking the law and it sort of being against a colleague if you like (both sort of working for the premier league and FA). With regards to suspension from the work place I understand that it can happen, but I could throw up a load of circumstances that it hasn't either on google or withy self and friends mate. I just think its a shame to condemn a man before he is found guilty, it sets an awful precedent where anybody accused of anything by anyone may lose a chunk of their career. If your suspended from doin your duty as a bingham then it's not the end of the world, a professional footballer being suspended or dropped from a tournament as their career comes to a close is different in my opinion.

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  13. Terry is a very lucky man if he really cared about england`s chances he would of stepped down in a dignified way or  insisted that the case is concluded before the tournament. Fact is this will probably be the last he will be in and with all the squads wives around, im sure he wants to make the most of it. He is scum and brings disharmony, Are we forgetting he tried to undermine Gerrard in the last world cup.
    Anyway I have my strong views and  blame the manager for giving it back to him.

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  14. I don't view it as the FA making him 'guilty' or 'condemning him', as they haven't said anything like that, in my view. Maybe its just me but I don't see anything wrong with the removal of captaincy. As its not just about him, its about the squad too. Also the england captain role is important, there should be no sideshow, regardless of innocence/guilt. 

    Doesn't really add any meaningful flavour to the situation, in relation to this being John Terry's last possible tournament. Would/should be treated the same if it was earlier or later, regardless. For once, the FA have done the right thing for me. Yes, there plenty of other occasions where employees don't get suspended prior to conclusion of criminal charges but its not rare that they do, that was my point.

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  15. I added it was possibly his last tournament not to make it more meaningful, but basically that it's a bit different from being suspended in a normal job. As for it being a common thing I think it's a lot less common then uncommon, definitely. You say they aren't saying he's guilty, but their stopping him from doing his job, i.e captain England.

    With regards to the squad harmony, your right, but if he isn't the captain an still goes, what's the difference? As I wrote below, this should have been sorted pronto.

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  16. dont forget its john terry so probably only a two match ban an a little community service again!
    Yes its right he is stripped of the england captaincy for 2 reasons one he's a role model and two how the hell are he and rio ferdinand supposed to create a partnership at the back for our national team???? in my opinion good player or not he should be totally omitted from squad. and as for othe comments on here if youre being remanded in custody awaiting trial the probability is you will lose your job

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  17. Nicol = LFC Hero not a Legend.

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  18. A 'captain' is supposed to be the kinda like the official leader of the squad, the official talisman you might say. That is different from being just another member of the squad. Being the official captain, gives him a bigger status in the squad. Stopping him from being captain, doesn't necessarily mean he is seen to be guilty by the FA. There is nothing in their statement that definitively illustrates that. Even if its for the sake of squad harmony (regardless of effectiveness of such a suspension to gain this), they are justified in taking this measure they have done.

    Well we will shall have to agree to disagree over the commonality over suspension prior to conclusion over criminal charges, as its just one man's word against another....no pun intended :).

    In general, again, agree to disagree as I simply don't see anything wrong with removing him as captain. If people want to see that as the FA making him look guilty, its upto them, even though there is nothing definitive to illustrate that.

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  19. The FA are a joke but we know this already.

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  20. Do we have to wait till next season to see Terry serving an 8 match ban and let him help Chelsea to 4th spot, while our players serve 8 match bans for far far less?

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  21. Yeah I respect your opinion mate. I would feel punished if I where Terry, and as for squad harmony it will be still be upset if he is part of it, captain or not. Anyway we obviously have different opinions that won't really change. And Terry's a n*b anyway.

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  22. In Terry's defence, he is the English role model being an immediate past captain of England so obviously that alone pretects him fom the lynch mob in the media that passed judgement on Suarez before he was charged if anyone remembers why the dailymirror was banned from liverpool Fc after branding Suarez a racist before the decision had been made the FA to endorse what the media were baying for.
    Its interesting any incident that is highlighted on Skysportsnews ans discussed extensively always leads to the FA endorsing the popular opinion of some of the clearly biased pundits.
    I am no longer sure which is the dog and which is the tail and which part is wagging as far as the FA and Skysportsnews is concerned

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  23. Sky Sports are the ones holing the money. Enough answer?

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  24. why have the fa not done there own investigation, like they did with suarez?

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  25.  A person is innocent until proven guilty, except in matters of race. I'm not condoning racism, but this (and the Suarez case) has echos of the Salem witch trials.

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  26. I thought they were trying to protect Terry but now they've thrown him under the bus and I fully expect them to give him a 12 game ban (they said 8 games for Suarez was lenient because of cultural differences).

    I agree with Jaimie, I don't like Terry, I think he is probably guilty but before it is proven beyond reasonable doubt (that is particularly crucial) then this is completely unjustifiable morally. If they suspended Terry as soon as the CPS decided to pursue the case, that would have been fine. Of course if proven not guilty it would seem harsh but the logic behind it would be understandable.

    To be fair, Terry has somewhat precipitated this by (besides making the original remarks) by not pushing for an earlier trial.

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  27. if he remains as captain it may divide the england players as there will be people for ferdinand and people for terry. Also he will not be required in press conferences, so their will be no constant questioning of it.

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  28. I agree with your final comment JK on passing down a verdict only after guilt proven... but

    Not sure what Nicol is going on about...since the FA set a precedent with Suarez you would think if Nicol was worried about the press having a field day then shouldn't he be more concerned about the clear discrimination/inconsistency by the FA? Suarez copped 8 matches but Terry hasn't been suspended at all - not saying the FA are racist towards south Americans, just saying that's what the evidence suggests. Especially when you consider that Evra (unlike Ferdinand, far as I know) got the ball rolling on their heated little exchange!

     If I was in the press I would be publishing a huge WTF??

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  29. I'm thinking it's easier to justify suspending Terry rather than not suspending him.. if the FA are going to stuff up then the most important thing is that everyone is treated equal (unless they are massively hypocritical).  Imagine if the High Court decided to publicly crack down on racial abuse and sets a precedent by convicting an offender, only to let the next guy off with a warning.. doesn't solve anything.

    The most important thing (IMO) is that the next player who racially abuses an opponent knows that he's up the creek without a paddle.The FA are trying to make this a cut and dry situation so if you are racist on the field or in the stands you are out.

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  30. The thing is that Suarez was punished out of no evidence,do you understand the meaning of the term "PROVE" by the way?. The FA heard jokes from Evra and they thought it was the truth,but now that they could see an angry-insulting face of Terry and that Terry is British,they do not act.We know well that we cannot set laws in the English land as outsiders but we demand that the English be honest and consistent.There was talk all over the place by Manchester United fans saying Suarez behavior and the response of Liverpool to the Suarez's row have destroyed LFC's reputation globally but I am asking myself now about the FA;have they not destroyed their reputation in handling of the Terry issue?,they were quick to punish Suarez out of no prove and now Terry abused someone racially and there is evidence-they do not act.SHAME!!!
    we would live with it and hopefully we would be able to hold on but it pisses off for someone to pretend he is holy while in reality he is a demon.

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  31. Oh my Puki Mak! Nicol is defending the blues who 'stole' our Torres. What a shame!

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  32. Good question and my reply would be a long answer but it`s my resting day so I will say yes and summarize it for the simple fact that he is responsible for his players and the shambolic way liverpool handled the Suarez racist issue.

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  33. Why is this even a thing? go on YouTube watch the video, proven guilty, how everyone is daring to be all up in arms over this i don't know, Its showing a lot of things really, So many people are backing Terry online and I'm wondering why some of them seam to be the same people you see posting about how diabolical that Suarez wasn't banned from football and how disgusting it was that Liverpool fans and players stuck with Suarez through it all etc etc, SO they ok with...

    Terry the white bloke caught on video saying You Black Cu*t,

    but not ok with Suarez the foreigner, no video evidence, coming out and saying yeah this is what i said whats wrong with that? I don't need to hide it as there's nothing wrong with what i said....

    Throughout all these going ons I've noticed one thing, Most of the arguing is nothing to do with racism its just club hatred wrapped in a lovely little oh this is all about racism bow

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  34. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0z_Y2dk-aQ&feature=related <--- Proven Guilty now stop saying all this oh oh Innocent until innocent until

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  35. Ok suarez there is no video evidence .
    But the world can clearly see terry call him a black C..t
    Are you chelsea fan normal didnt he sleep with team mates wife wasnt there problems with terry sleeping with under age girls,
    you are sick people what if he called you those name what if he sleep with your wife what if he did something to you daughter come on really enough is enough being a football hes a criminal in the real world

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  36. Suarez was stitched-up by Politicians and the FA, yet the Terry case 'appears' to be more an overt case of racism. The pictures are quite telling to be honest, he will be found guilty 100%. Nobody can compare the two cases in reality, with Suarez the FA couldn't wait to find a top player 'guilty of racism'.

    The case was trumped-up and even the FA and Evra agree Suarez is not a racist!!!!. It's amazing how he can be guilty yet, only be so due to a perception of racism???, what a load of toss that is. Basically if i think you are abusing me i can accuse you of racism, without any proof, ridiculous!!!

    400m Latin Americans were disgusted at their own language being called racist, who on earth are the FA to have the cheek to make them feel like racists???. The FA wanted a patsy for publicity and Suarez was that man, it was an appalling piece of administration.

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  37. I don't know if it was clear in my post but I agree that it is easier to justify suspending him but what I was trying to say is waiting this long to do anything, basically just hoping everything sorts it self out before it becomes a problem, and then just taking away the captaincy was stupid and wrong. They should have suspended him as soon as it was known to be going to court or backed him.

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  38. good answer.  Kenny has spoken from the heart once since he returned to the helm and that was after the defeat at bolton.

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  39. surprise surprise

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  40. Gano you are talking out of your ass. suarez was as guilty as sin. Ignorance is no excuse. Everyone one knows it but people fail to admit it. Liverpool  share part responsibility in that it has a responsibility to make sure their staff and players are educated to a code of conduct in its company. The only point you have made is it seems Terrys is worse. But for the record the police told the FA to halt investigation till they  have done theres.
    Ok i agree the politicians wanted blood but Suarez and liverpool handed it to them on a plate.
    400 mil latin americans? lol get real. Have you actually read the report? 
    It is not only what you say but how you say it. For example let me assume you are a white man. If i say to you that you are a white handsome man today and tomorrow I say that you are white trash. Both use the term white but clearly one is racist while the other is not.
    anyway it is not my job to educate you and for the record one can make a racist comment and people may say they don`t think you are racist. However if you are proved guilty anyone has the right to call you a racist due to the fact that it is their opinion and you have  been proved to make a racist remark.

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  41. yeah couldn't agree more... don't stress though, I have a feeling his suspensions will be for club matches only. 

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  42. Nobody proved any guilt at all, the FA and Evra agree that Suarez is not racist................so shut yer mouth!!!!

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  43. I like I said ......Ignorance is no excuse.....as well as stupidity!!!

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  44. You are wasting your time, mate, most of these people don't want to know.

    Seems as if most people cannot tell the difference between a legal case and an FA enquiry by an independent panel. Once it went to trial, the FA decided that it was inappropriate for them to handle this case before the trial. Would any of you expect to be disciplined at work before a court case? However, once Chelsea and Terry, cynically, changed the court date, so that the situation would run well into the summer and he could not lose the captaincy, the situation has changed and the FA have the right to change their mind and avoid the entire team ending up in a circus.

    And this is no conspiracy against Suarez where Terry is getting away with it, either. People who are expecting the same verdicts for Suarez and Terry simply are not paying attention, they are not going through the same systems, so comparing which is more 'overt' or not is not really relevent. If Terry gets off, the FA will drop it, if he is fined, the FA will probably charge him. At that point, the Suarez apologists can whine if he doesn't get 8 games, not till then. 

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  45. I reckon it being his last tournament is why he got Chelsea to delay the case by stopping players missing training to attend court.

    it is a 2.5k fine, after the tournament he doesn't really care if he is found guilty or not.

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  46. John Terry`s outcome will be alot worse. In these situations the longer you leave it the worse it gets, He tried to play the FA and it has backfired. He is only thinking of himself. He will be blamed for England`s failure to win the tournament and the stain will be on him for the rest of his life guilty or not. No media work for him and no knighthood. ban or no ban he is doomed.

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  47. Reckon he may have blown the knighthood already!! I hope so, otherwise i will be expecting one!

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