Alex Ferguson says Fabio Capello within his rights

LONDON -- Manchester United’s Sir Alex Ferguson has weighed in to the John Terry debate, saying that England manager Fabio Capello is well within his rights to have an opinion about his former captain.

England manager Fabio Capello looks on before the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield, Liverpool, England, Monday.

Terry was stripped of the captaincy last week in the wake of increasing dismay that his trial for alleged racist abuse has been delayed until July 9, after this summer’s European Championship.

The 31-year-old Chelsea captain is alleged to have abused Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand in a league match.

Capello told Italian television that he believed Terry should have been retained as captain because he was innocent until proven guilty.

And United manager Ferguson said: "There’s nothing wrong with having an opinion."

Speaking at the Laureus Sports Awards in London, the Scot said: "I think what will happen in the next few days is there will have to be a coming together of the FA hierarchy and Fabio Capello because he’s the team manager, he has the importance of that position.

"Without question the most important person at a football club is the manager."

Capello, who is due to leave his role as England manager this summer, told Italian TV that he had informed the Football Association chairman David Bernstein that he did not agree with their decision to remove the captaincy from Terry.

Gordon Taylor, the head of the players’ union, told the BBC he did not understand why Capello was so against the FA’s decision.

"I don’t know what purpose it serves ... it means there’s not the right atmosphere conducive to a successful tournament," Taylor said.

"It asks a question of the unity of the FA and makes it difficult for whoever takes over the captaincy.

"The FA’s decision was made to take the heat out of the situation, which has festered. It was a decision to focus on the football.

"And if the FA thought that was best for the team you would expect the manager to go with that."

Former captain Rio Ferdinand, the older brother of Anton, has said he does not want the job, leaving Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard as the most likely man to replace Terry.

Meanwhile, the BBC reported -- citing sources close to the player -- that Terry wants to continue playing for his country and is not considering retiring from international football.

The Boston Herald.