John Terry has been stripped of the England captaincy for the second time by the Football Association.
Terry lost the armband for a second time after he was called by FA chairman David Bernstein on Friday morning.
Bernstein on Thursday contacted all the other members of the 12-strong board to seek their views after the decision that the defender's trial will not take place until July 9 - after Euro 2012. Terry has been accused of racially abusing QPR's Anton Ferdinand, a charge he denies.
English football's governing body took the decision to act immediately rather than putting off a decision until the next board meeting on February 23.
The FA released a statement around an hour after the news broke on Friday which reads: "Following the decision to adjourn the court case against John Terry to July, the Football Association confirm he will not captain the England team until the allegations against him are resolved.
"The FA board expected the trial to be concluded prior to the European Championship. Further to Wednesday’s confirmation that the trial will not take place until after the tournament, the board has discussed the matter in detail and has collectively decided it is in the interests of all parties that John has the responsibilities of captaincy removed at this time.
"This decision has been taken due to the higher profile nature of the England captaincy, on and off the pitch, and the additional demands and requirements expected of the captain leading into and during a tournament.
"The FA board can confirm that he has not been excluded from the squad and that Fabio Capello is free to select him for the Holland fixture on 29 February and the European Championship.
"FA chairman David Bernstein has spoken to both John Terry and Fabio Capello to explain the facts to them. Fabio Capello has not been involved in the FA board discussions which reached this conclusion, but understands that the FA board has authority to make this decision.
"Fabio Capello will take the decision as to who will be made captain moving forward.
"This decision in no way infers any suggestion of guilt in relation to the charge made against John Terry. The FA will be not be making any further comment on this matter."
Sports minister Hugh Robertson MP voiced his approval of the decision, saying: "It would have been impossible for Terry to have continued as captain with this charge over his head."
Terry had previously been demoted from the role in the run-up to the 2010 World Cup following lurid tabloid stories about his private life which led to Wayne Bridge's retirement from international football.
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