Journalists have had their say on John Terry – both the allegations and the likely fallout – and so has Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe MP. Hundreds of thousands, probably millions, of people have heard and been influenced by the views of these qualified individuals.
But what about the people who watch football week-in, week-out, people who have invested time and money in the game? What are their views? Over the weekend, I asked for the views of the more than 3,000 Chelsea fans this blog is connected with on facebook. There were more than 130 responses within just half an hour.
Broadly, and as you would expect from a group made up exclusively of Chelsea fans, there is support for John Terry. But the extent to which people are prepared to overlook his off-field misdemeanours varies wildly, with some feeling deeply ashamed of their captain’s actions while others are ready to ignore them.
Either side of the debate, it’s certainly an issue that kicks up some emotional responses. Here are the pick of them.
Terry supporters
“I still think he's a top man. He's just human”
“Chelsea are my team and passion. What happens off the pitch is no business of true fans”
“I can’t believe you’re disappointed in him. he's still our captain, leader and legend”
“So that stuff is actually true? I don't really believe it, JT has been attacked by the press numerous times since he became captain and I think it's just one of those times”
“Other players did the same thing. Why blamed only JT? Don't tell me it’s because he is captain of England”
“Blimey people, do we REALLY have a right to judge him and his personal life? and more importantly do we really know ALL THE FACTS to talk about him and insult him that way??”
Terry sceptics
“There’s been no real mention of what Wayne Bridge probably went though, he probably left Chelsea because of it and now I doubt he wants play for England when given the chance. Not only did JT ruin Bridge’s relationship, he also played a part in messing with his career. Terry has a highly questionable character and as soon as Chelsea fans realise that the better! You all seem to think the press has it in for him, but have a look at all the things he's ever done, not just this. He's a disgrace and I'm ashamed to call him the captain of my club and country”
“As shown here whatever JT does the majority of Chelsea fans will worship him, and we wonder why no one likes us - it has nothing to do with our recent success. Terry’s not even our best centre back for god’s sake! He's a good leader but who would really want him as their leader after hearing this and what he's done to a fellow teammate? Bring back the good old days of the 90s Chelsea”
“I don’t think these are just allegations. Yes I agree this doesn’t change his performance on the pitch and he’s still a great captain, but there are certain boundaries. It’s not like this is the first time he’s done something absolutely stupid. People all over look up to him and then he just goes and lets us down”
"Affairs are par for the course in life." Well that's ok then. Listen, I'm not suggesting we abandon JT. I wouldn't take the England captaincy from him either. But that's not to say we can't - or shouldn't - be disappointed with his behaviour. And, on a very practical level, he should be more savvy and realise that someone in his position is more vulnerable to their mistakes than you or I”
On the England captaincy
“Why sack him from being England captain? These things happen 100 times day in people’s lives. It’s just because he’s high profile - if he played for a lower league club it wouldn’t make the papers”
“He Should Stay As England Captain! He is The Best man For The Job tbh”
“This will not have any effect on John Terry's Chelsea career but probably does spell the end of his England captaincy. Despite the fact that he is the only natural leader in the England squad, many think that because of his past, his family, etc he's image is not what they want for England captain. Now he's done something that can genuinely effect the mood in the England dressing room, there will definitely be people pressing for him to go.”
“He is simply the best man to lead England to victory, don’t let his private life get in the way”
“Let’s Hope the captaincy goes to franky lamps! not Rooney, Gerrard or Rio.”
“As England/ Chelsea captain it’s about setting an example as he is a role model to youngsters. It’s a tough one, give Lamps the armband for England, Terry’s not even our best defender!!”
On the media
“There’s an appalling holier than thou article in the Telegraph saying that he must resign now. They should be critical of the witch-hunt the NotW are leading against him. Could the NotW not wait until after the world cup? I mean I admit his parents are clearly very dodgy and he's not the sharpest knife in the box when it comes to the people he surrounds himself with but why expect him a footballer to have a squeaky clean existence? He's immaculate on the field. A great player and a true pro. Surely the constant investigative rubbish is intrusive and ultimately counter productive?”
“The Media don't care if they kill his career. As long as they're getting paid for the stories the expose. Absolute roaches”
“They can't unsettle us on the field so will dig as much dirt as they can off it. Chelsea are offering their full support to JT and so should we. No-one is perfect. Should he be stripped of Chelsea and/or England captaincy over these allegations'? absolutely not. This goes on all the time and if everyone who did it lost their status in the workplace or their jobs, the dole payouts would be unaffordable”
What do you think – agree with any of the above? Post a comment.
You might also be interested to:
- Read why money, not morality will lose Terry the England captaincy
- Link up with www.bridgeviews.co.uk on facebook
I could care less about John's personal life, it's his mess, let him deal with it.
With Adultery sites booming, it seems a bit strange how much attention this gets (or is it?). Majority of English media is nothing more that dirt spreading junk not worth reading. News of the World.. paper not suited even to wipe your Arsenal.
Posted by: Emigre | 02 February 2010 at 15:41
it takes two to tango everybody is after his head and she is about to make money out of this were the justics
Posted by: pete | 02 February 2010 at 17:19
I really don't know what to make of this whole thing. On the heels of the Tiger Woods scandal I am not sure about what is private and what is public anymore. The line seems to have been blurred. Certainly JT has sponsors and so he cannot say wear my jersey brand, but don't pay attention to who I am as a person. They are not mutually exclusive. There is also a certain responsibility that professional athletes have to adhere to. They are paid millions of dollars and for that they are forced to give up their privacy. That is the deal. If he doesn't want all the press then he should become an accountant, nobody will care when he cheats on his wife then.
Certainly he is not the first professional athlete to cheat on his wife. Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, etc. in states they seem to do it for sport. It almost seems to go with the territory. Certainly it does not make it right, but it puts it more in context. Kobe Bryant is an example of someone who can put this kind of behavior behind him. After his cheating scandal Nike pulled their sponsorship from him. Today he has the best selling Nike shoe in their line. He is once again adored and everyone has all but forgotten his bad deeds. I think JT can do the same thing.
I think he should apologize for his actions, and then get back to playing football. Soon this all will be over the media will find something else to cover.
Posted by: Michael Hepp | 03 February 2010 at 01:45
I really don't understand the "footballers are not role models" argument many put forward. They are, whether we like it or not.
http://www.football-intelligence.co.uk/premier-league-predictions/footballers-are-role-models/
Also, there is real obfuscation of the issue - though surely he must not continue as captain, there is no reason or appetite to remove him from the team or squad.
Posted by: FootballIntel | 03 February 2010 at 16:09
Personally I think JT should resign the England captaincy to take the heat off the situation. Lamps would make a great England Captain.
Posted by: Paul Jeffrey | 04 February 2010 at 12:02
This story has tired already. Who cares!! Let JT deal with his private issues.
And I surelly don't think footballers, just like any well known person, should be seen as role models. Maybe that is the issue, "we" put them in a pedestal, expecting them to be holier than thou, when these people are just like any of us; getting some things right and making a lot of mistakes. Of course, not all of us serve as clowns in the media circus - that said, who gave us the right to judge JT's private actions? Does this affect us in any way? Nope.
IF, and that's a BIG if, Capello or whoever feel that JT is not fit to wear the armband of captain of England NT, based solely on his capacity as a footballer, then so be it. But if 'his personal doings aren't whiter than white, let's strip him of the captaincy', please save me from this hipocritical behaviour.
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Posted by: Vaclav | 05 February 2010 at 15:49