When the Chelsea team came up the tunnel, every single player’s head was to the ground, looking to the floor with iPods in. John Terry came in fourth or fifth and they all looked so grim-faced and down. Everyone in the tunnel was silent when they arrived, staring at John Terry. When he went into the dressing room and came out again, to have a walk around the pitch, he had red eyes and looked like a man under immense strain. All eyes were on him. Everyone was talking very quietly in the tunnel, thinking, ‘We have to be quiet around John Terry’. It was very, very strange. Even the Burnley players were a bit on edge. I’ve never experienced that amount of attention on one person.

In fact, the whole of Saturday was like nothing I had ever experienced in football before. The atmosphere around the Chelsea squad was like someone had died to be honest. It was so morbid and subdued. We spoke to Ray Wilkins before the game because Carlo Ancelotti doesn’t do pre-match interviews. Ray was fine and answered our questions and then, post-match, obviously they had won, which makes things a bit easier.

When Ancelotti walked in, Chelsea’s head of media walked in and chairman Bruce Buck also walked into a very small cubbyhole of an interview room in Turf Moor. I was waiting for “Rebecca, no questions on John Terry” but it never came, which was great. I knew that I had to ask the questions but I couldn’t start with it because you have to be very careful about the order in which you do an interview like that.

You don’t want to annoy them from the off, but you only have two-and-a-half minutes and you don’t know how long they are going to talk for. But I think two questions before you hit controversy is okay because you have eased them in and covered what needs to be covered! You have to be careful and you have to do it with respect and, unless it really merits it, you shouldn’t ask more than two or three questions about the subject.

You can sense how the person you are interviewing is feeling towards you. It doesn’t always come across on camera but you get the vibe and Ancelotti was okay with a couple of questions. You have to be careful, especially when you have the Chelsea chairman at the back of the room! The whole atmosphere was very strange and I have interviewed quite a few people down the years. That was definitely a very weird one.

Bizarrely, I think the whole controversy affects the team more than John Terry. Everyone I have spoken to, on or off camera, says his professionalism can never be called into question on the pitch, as we saw on Saturday when he scored the winning goal. He can separate it and completely switch on to football. But for the rest of the team, I think it must have an effect. How can it not? They will all have been spoken to by Ancelotti, briefed on what to say, and it will be playing on their minds massively.

A lot of them will be friends with Wayne Bridge and I just think there is no way it could not affect them. I don’t mean they are going to fall apart and not win the title, not at all, but I believe it will be a harder task for Chelsea to win the title than it was before. I don’t think it will affect John Terry’s form one iota, but if it does then it will affect the rest of his career. He is such a strong player that, if he was to be so badly broken, I think the only way is down. But I don’t think that will happen.

Terry is no longer England's captain, announced today. Hit him where it hurts... in the pocket. Drop him completely from the England squad and choose another centre-half. Nobody is irreplacable.

i think everyone should just leave the already dropped england captain alone, afterall he is yet to comment and the whole thing is in no way affecting him and doesnt look like it will. he has acted wrongly fine, everyone or anyone can be in this position, so why the fuss? up blues, we will finally silence them haters of J.T, on sunday by icing the cake with thrashing the young gun powders, who think they are already guns. nice article, whoever.Go chelsea.

EBJT has been and always be a scumbag, surely England can replace him.

I still support John Terry for Captain of Chelsea and England. Even good people make mistakes but they also deserve to be forgiven. His leadership cannot be replaced. Perhaps he should sit out 1 game then be reenstated. Gerard, Rooney et al have faults too but also lack JT's leadership.

Replace the louse.

WELL,I THINK JOHN TERRY IS ONE OF THE BEST CB'S AND THINK HE IS WELL DESERVING OF BEING CAPTAIN OF THE ENGLISH NATIONAL TEAM.BUT WHAT IS IT THAT HE DID WRONG.............CAN SOMEONE TELL ME BECAUSE I DONT REALLY KNOW

Should drop him, its a shame to cheat on his wife, his team mate, his buddy..

So many classics scene of his.. but the fact of dropping captain's band is better than the missed penalty kick in moscow final.

Frankly I put the blame on the media, reporters...this is a personal matter an never needed to be public...

I feel JT is england's strongest center back especially now that rio seems to be hitting a blip in form

Taking the captain band frm JT does nt make sence or solved anything rather brings a problem in the Englands center back i bet. JT we still love U.

Hey Rebecca - fantastic article, best thing I have read on the subject. Wish we had people of your quality reporting on soccer in Canada. You are staying in the present, with compassionate observations on the people involved.

People reap what they sow. John Terry will play a lot more soccer, make more money, and contribute to the teams he is on. There is an opportunity for him to grow up a bit as a person, I hope he takes it.

It's a personal matter, yes, but that he had an affair with the girlfriend of a club and country teammate is inexcusable. It sets a horrible tone for the dressing room and he loses any credibility he once had. Rio, Rooney, Gerrard all have faults, but they are -- first and foremost -- top notch teammates. JT has to live with this for eternity, but the English side is bigger than one man. Capello did the right thing in the end.

Anyone that thinks this is a private matter and that Terry should still be captain has clearly never played a competitive team sport, where the captain has unwritten expectations. Banging your teammate's (and good buddy, by the way) ex a few weeks after the guy moved to another team is one of those rules.

Terry screwed up and legitimately lost the captaincy. Capello did the right thing.

well after all said and done...JT has been stripped of the arm-band so I hope he can be left alone by the English press to concentrate on his football.he who is not guilty should cast the first stone...for Rio ferdinand he shld be very careful and I hope his own past too wld not catch up with him someday. JT is the best but considering the circumstance it was better for him to relinquish his captaincy. I know he has a heart to sail through and I pray God keeps him strong. lessons learnt i'm sure never again JT.

They should leave John alone, just like bad people do good, good people can also do bad. If I was him I would resign from international football. If Bill Clinton can cheat then anyone can. I love you John, ur still the best.

the rejected stone will soon be the cornerstone. wished he would also be removed from then england team. lets see how england is gonna cope in world cup

No Sex Please We're British.

As an American, I can only laugh at a people who think its an improvement to replace a national captain who cheated on his wife (with a French model) with a player who once missed a major international tournament because he refused to take a drug test and is currently serving a lengthy suspension for violent conduct on the field of play.

Class all the way.

Some people are treating JT's demise as a death. How about thinking of his wife and the three kids involved. They are more important than whether he should be captain.

look we are all talking as if we are not human beings. it is normal for an individual to cheat or flert around with females, the major question is when does relationship get involved in sports. the man lifestyle is what is chooses i dont think that no one has the right to judge him or characterize him for what he did. his outside relationship does not affect the credibility on the pitch. he is an excellent center back one of the best in the world i might add.

All this madness about dropping John from the England squad is ridiculous. He is the best English central defender, period. Taking the captain's band is acceptable because he doesn't command the respect of the players anymore, but he is a professional, and he plays well regardless, he has to be on the plane to South Africa.

.....So lets give the armband to a guy who was banned from football for 9 months for failing to report for a drug test, that was well thought out Fabio or who ever told you to make the call.

The only question for Capello was whether he believed JT could still be an effective team captain, i.e., after this (and other) revelations, could JT still lead the squad effectively or was there someone else that Capello thought would be a more effective leader.

Pretty clearly the England Captain needn't be a saint; nor is being a sinner a disqualification. It's immaterial. The job is about the football and leadership, and all this outrage and disappointment about Terry's off-field antics sounds a bit jejune. He's a footballer. Look for your role models elsewhere.

Love that no one seems concerned that he also betrayed his WIFE! Nice article, Rebecca--even-handed and professional but also compassionate. I wonder if people who live in the rarefied air of professional football somehow just lose, over time, any sense of restraint or non-athletic discipline. They're paid a gazillion dollars and have legions of people following them rabidly. When was the last time anyone told them, "Sometimes you just don't get what you want. Sometimes you back off, even if you want it." Instead, the mindset seems to be: "If I want it, I should have it." I'd feel sorrier for all involved if they weren't rich.

Nobody's business but him and his missus. He's a better team leader than anyone else. WTF does it matter what he does off the pitch. Leave him the hell alone and don't hurt England because a bunch of desparate rubish media hacks have nothing better to talk about.

when you are the england football captain you are a role model kids look up to you , what sort of example is it to be dishonest and cheat on your wife !! yes he is the rock at heart of the english defence but sometimes you have to do the right thing and mr capello has done that by relieving him of the captaincy . the next move is up to mr Terry to show what sort of man he really is !!

The country goes into chaos, John Terry's voice hits even higher decibels, and the US thumps the queen's tots to propel further the unraveling of what could have been greatness for England. I can't wait to watch it happen.

i felt very bad hearing the story but all the same JT is a player i respect so much and i will not hate him because of this. I now urge the press to let the sleeping dog lie.

shame on all of you who say terry should be dropped from the england squad. big shame on you. he has made a huge mistake in his personal life, does that mean he should be crucified? anyone who has a 100% record and no skeleton in his/her closet can say that, otherwise we should all support terry and hope he learns from his mistakes.

What he did was bad. But we dnt need to cut his head off. He is only human and we need to have pity on him. Let u pity a man who can be our family

though i am disappointed by JT action bcos he is a role model but is Bridge, Rio or Capello a saint after all. "you no holy pass".
Terry and Chelsea must learn to move on.

JT is one of a grate man in football (minister of defense), but everything has is own limitation as we are, in this living world. But I hope they should give it to a perfect player, if they could find. JT I love u, up blues life goes on JT

It has happened and decisions have been taken by capello.Now lets everybody leave JT alone.He is our man.ok

well said rebecca

Well, I can only hope this continues to be a distraction through the first round of the WC. I wonder if a rumor can be started that has two PLAYERS having an affair. Hmmmm ....

Terry is ano good. Let him axed, he does not deserve to lead others. he is a bad example in and off the pitch.

Capello & England will regret their action.To err is human.JT we can forgive you of any sin.

John Terry is a football player and not a priest, nobody is perfect, this incident has shown that he is a human being but it takes two to tango. Nothing is being said how it started, she must be a gold-digger to sleep with her boyfriend's team-mate. JT need our prayers and support during this crisis that may cost him his marriage and family.

Capello acted swiftly and rightfully so. The dressing room is a team's sanctuary and that has to be protected, especially if Terry and Bridge are in there together in South Africa. The focus must remain on the World Cup as England have the team to be successful if they are not derailed by this scandal. I hope Rio can stand in and do the job leading into the finals.

While Terry is human and can make mistakes, he knew the consequences but made a poor choice nonetheless. That is a not a decision a leader should make.

well,i think what JT did was bad,but we all have skeletons in our closet and we shudnt throw away the baby with the bad water.so i think his personal life shudnt interfere with his proffesional life,so their's no need for the drop provided he is performing well as a footballer and as a captain.

Everyone makes mistakes and should be forgiven and given a second chance. If we cannot do that then, why not drop prince charles from the royal family. He will probably be the next king and all will kiss his royal __s

Jt made a very big mistake. I hope God forgives him. None of us is a saint not even bridge and the people that make up the media. Jt, stay focused and pray for forgiveness as we all do. U are still a lot of people's role model. Luv ur determination. We are not perfect and God knows this.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of GOD. we all know that JT has wrong his family and his team mates and deserve strip off the captain band but we should also know that even the capello is not righteous. JT is a great player and deserve to be on the squad to south africa.

yaya whatever dont forget john terry scored winning goal

for those ppl defending terry, i hope ur best friends bangs the mother of your child :P

still want JT out of England squad???????hahahahahahahaha you cannot replace him.....and what he does off the pitch is his BUSINESS