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On 9 July, eight days after the final of Euro 2012, John Terry will face trial on a charge, which he denies, of a racially aggravated public order offence. Also on trial, in effect, will be the Football Association's judgment in how they handle this unfortunate set of circumstances.
Whatever they choose to do the FA will be criticised, whatever the outcome of Terry's trial. If they choose to allow Fabio Capello to make the decision, they will be accused of weakness and of seeking to shift the blame. If they decide for the Italian, they will be said to have usurped his authority. If Terry remains as captain, regardless of who takes the decision there will be criticism for ignoring the seriousness of the charge. If Terry is removed from the squad, they will be lambasted for undermining the principle of someone being innocent unless proven guilty. If Terry is kept in the squad but replaced as captain, this will be portrayed as an unsatisfactory compromise that is the worst of both worlds.
Employers do take action without prejudging cases. On Saturday, four News International journalists with differing but high levels of responsibility at the Sun were arrested. They were not charged, but they were suspended on full pay. It is not a pleasant situation in which to be but limits the material damage. The problem for the FA is that playing for and captaining England are not ordinary jobs.
Despite the well-documented reports of associates of Terry exploiting his status - apparently without his knowledge - for financial gain, neither representing nor leading the national team is about the money. Or at least it shouldn't be. Given the public profile, it is impossible to mitigate the damage that such a charge does to an individual's reputation and that any action by the FA or his club employer would have. Terry's presence on the pitch is conspicuous to millions in a way that a journalist's in an office is not; likewise any absence.
No one should doubt the difficulty of the decision raised. The FA do have other issues to consider, though.
The cases involving Luis Suarez and Terry have demonstrated that English football still has a racism problem - separate from any that may exist with those individuals. Both maintain their innocence; Terry has not been convicted of anything and the FA panel that found against Suarez did not use the burden of proof required in criminal cases. However, there have been high-profile instances of alleged or confirmed racism involving supporters of the players' clubs at and around matches, and more privately there has been appalling levels of racist abuse on Twitter and in letters sent to individuals who have spoken up.
Liverpool's responses in this matter are seen to have accidentally encouraged racists to break cover, while Chelsea fans have endorsed in song the sentiments Terry denies having expressed. Despite the FA's denials the England team drag around an unhealthy number of racists who will do likewise given half an excuse.
The damage done to Liverpool's reputation is plain, epitomised by their having to apologise for having a celebratory clip on their website that included a well-publicised alleged incident during their FA Cup win against Manchester United. Can the FA afford not do do all they can to avoid risking similar incidents, undoing further the stand they have taken in the 21st century, having done far too little in much of the 20th?
In present circumstances John Terry is not a suitable figure to lead his country. If he is acquitted in July then Capello's successor should be free to reinstate him but for now, in a very difficult position, the FA should take the decision out of the manager's hands and at the very least return Terry to the ranks.
Philip Cornwall
