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It is difficult to know which is worse: that England are in chaos once again, but this time after the FA made a correct decision; that Fabio Capello has apparently resigned on principle over a temporary demotion for John Terry that would be taken for granted in most walks of life; or that there will be widespread glee over the Italian's departure.
The philosophy of his critics was summed up by the appearance of Neil Warnock on Sky Sports News, who gave full vent to the 'England job for the English' school of knee-jerk jingoism. "We had Sven and then Capello," the unemployed manager said, leaving out the Englishman in the middle, who cost the FA more than the total salaries paid to the Swede and the Italian by failing to qualify for the last European Championship.
"There's only one person that can get this job now and that's Harry Redknapp and the FA, whatever it takes, have got to go ahead and get it done now," Warnock added, demanding in effect that David Bernstein and co let Spurs name their price or make them an offer they would be foolish to refuse, before acceding to whatever terms Redknapp himself lays out. The receipts from goodness knows how many matches conceded in one sentence, Warnock explained in the next with an astonishing lack of self-awareness or an utter contempt for logic: "Because we've messed about for so many years and given so many millions away."
Warnock went on to extol the importance of having a laugh - "The one thing that's missing that you can't get in the coaching manuals, and that's humour" - but Redknapp would surely struggle to match the unintentional comedy the former QPR manager provided.
This is how it is with the England job, all reason flung out the window. What I did not expect was that the madness would involve Capello, too.
With hindsight there was a hint of a troubling stance in his endorsement of a former employer in April last year. "I voted Berlusconi before and I'll vote Berlusconi again. In Italy we have a problem with African immigration." Leaving to one side the precise issue involved, it is odd to an outsider that any single reason could be quoted as justification for backing a politician with as chequered a history as the Milan owner.
Berlusconi is no longer Italy's prime minister but would never have lasted as long had he been unable to use the ability to make laws to hold in check what elsewhere would be seen as the forces of law. He was able to complicate further an already labyrinthine judicial system that allows those with the right lawyers to keep prosecutors at bay until statutes of limitations come into play. Capello, like so many other Italians, was prepared to overlook this. I never expected that a culture clash over judicial philosophy could come into play with regard to his England role.
Berlusconi would never have survived one tenth of his scandals in this country, yet that seemed normal and acceptable to Capello. What seemed abnormal to him was a limited suspension, without financial penalty or prejudice, of someone facing a criminal charge that, if proved, would reflect badly on the employers. And Capello has, on the face of it, decided to stand on the principle that John Terry's denial of the charges is sufficient to delay what is commonplace, as the past ten days have proved with journalists and cabinet ministers. Yet the Italian admitted in the RAI interview: "The board's ruling is legitimate as they can rule on ethical grounds."
There will inevitably be speculation that a man who missed his son's wedding in November to take charge of a friendly was no longer committed to the job; the lack of improvement in his English has been highlighted by some who require remedial lessons in their mother tongue. He had sought the role so actively the moment Steve McClaren's failure as the Little Englanders' now forgotten standard-bearer had been confirmed, but it had certainly proved far more difficult once England achieved in superb fashion his first target, World Cup qualification. The criticism must have had an effect, but he was willing to shoulder the blame at Wayne Rooney's appeal hearing, to do something few English managers seem willing to do: to admit to making a mistake.
Whatever the truth, this was yet another farcical day in the story of England, with the incredible coincidence of Redknapp's acquittal. What could possibly happen next, someone asking Warnock "to be serious" for a moment and say whether he would be interested?
Oh.
Philip Cornwall
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