Why Terry’s demotion is necessary

So Fabio Capello has decided to axe John Terry as captain of England’s national football team. Just FYI for anyone who isn’t aware of it, John Terry apparently had an affair with the girlfriend (now ex) of Wayne Bridge, who was (I suppose it’s past tense now) Terry’s close pal and a fellow national footballer.

I am glad Capello made the decision he did, because that’s the right thing to do.

Now, there have been people who said Terry should not be punished for his off-field indiscretions, as it is separate from his on field work where he wears his heart on his shirt and is a model player who never gives up on a fight. There were also those who said Terry is a footballer and not a role model so it should not affect his captaincy. It is suggested that if people wants a role model for their kids, they should look elsewhere.

I can’t disagree more.

Yes, Terry is a footballer, but footballers these days are no longer just footballers. They are much more than that. Football is one of the world’s most popular sports, if not the most popular. This sport’s players, especially the top players, are celebrities in their own right. Many of them go into side-lines (for lack of better word) such as modelling, advertisements and so on. So yes, they are celebrities.

When you are a public figure who gets frequent media coverage, people notice you. When people notice you, they notice what you do. People, especially the young ones, learn their behaviours from people and adults around them. Who better to learn from than a rich, famous and apparently successful guy who gets all the attention? No mistake about this. So whether Terry is willing or not, he has the responsibility of being a role model.

Now it is a personal choice whether he wants to be a role model or not. I doubt anyone also demands for him to be a perfect human. But when someone so big and perhaps with a certain degree of societal behaviour influence (as most public figures do) makes a transgression (and is caught at it), a certain message is sent to a vast majority of people because that person appears on the NEWS. And how that message is handled will determine the way society goes.

Besides, now that Terry has betrayed a good friend who was once a team mate of his in Chelsea, and currently a national team mate, rifts have appeared. Even Chelsea stalwart Frank Lampard has called up Wayne Bridge to give him his support. He called Bridge, not Terry.

That implies that Terry has lost the respect and trust of some of his team mates both in the Chelsea and national squads. How can a man who is not trusted and respected be given the important duty of leading a national squad? Especially one of a long-underachieving footballing nation that is yearning to end its decades of trophy dry spell?

Now, the stripping of Terry’s captaincy tells the society three things:

1) It is NOT okay to betray a friend.

2) It is NOT okay to be playing doctor and patient with your friend’s girlfriend.

3) It is NOT okay to have an extramarital affair (which hurts your family).

On the otherhand, what will keeping Terry’s captaincy, and keeping things separate mean?

1) It is OKAY for you to betray a friend.

2) It is OKAY for you to play doctor and patient with a friend’s girlfriend.

3) It is OKAY to have an extramarital affair (which hurts your family).

All these, even if you are rich and famous and talented. So I think the whole issue is a no-brainer.

Kudos to Capello.