THE JOHN TERRY AFFAIR

I read the thoughts of someone on the BBC Sport Website this morning who suggested that John Terry’s indiscretion was a private not a footballing matter so therefore they were on the side of Team Terry! Well, that is alright then. So long as John betrays his wife and good friend Wayne Bridge in private and doesn’t bring it onto the soccer pitch it is ok! Adultery, murder, theft... sure as long as it doesn’t interfere with the football! England seems to be a society that got so freed from the horror of religious accountability that their open mindedness has led to their brains leaking out! To be on John Terry’s side against the innocent parties in this sad sordid story is actually quite frightening moral thinking or lack thereof!

Yet, there is more to the comment. The pontificator might say that he is not speaking about morals in general but about John Terry’s ability to be the captain of England. What he does in his private life doesn’t affect his ability to lead a team at the World Cup Finals. Ah... I see! Accept that his affair was not isolated from his soccer, he betrayed his wife by having an affair with a team mate’s partner! Though his wife doesn’t play, and therefore it seems can be callously dismissed from this story, his team mate does and might be right there in the back four alongside him in South Africa this summer. What trust and respect can this captain garner not only from the player already sinned against but from those who now have to look at their leader with a little more suspicion?

If I was John Terry’s pastor I would, as seems to be a common theme on my blog just now, offer him grace, forgiveness and a brand new start. However, grace does not mean an immediate return to the practical trust needed to be the captain of your country, to be the leader of men and the hero of a nation. It effects his wife most, and please let us not dismiss her because she is not involved in the footballing side, but it also effects team mates. Terry’s misdemeanour has implications to the players he might lead. In a few years time he might prove that the grace was well received and be a giant among redeemed men, perfect to lead a nation. Just now, on and off the pitch his credibility is in tatters.

(For worldwide readers, especially the American ones who know nothing about the beautiful game, John terry is the English soccer captain and it has just been revealed that he was involved in an affair with a team mate’s partner. The question on British talk shows and tabloid newspapers is about whether he should remain captain).

Comments

[Gibby]

to be fair, I think what people mean is that just because he's been a lying cheating b**tard off the field, doesn't mean he should lose his job. I don' think that counts as being 'on his side'. generally though, i'd agree, i can't see him being a trusted national captain anymore.

[David]

England... Chelsea... Do I care?

[Paul Hutchinson]

Does his mistake affect his ability to do his current job?

Of course it does - the trust and respect of his teammates (particularly Wayne Bridge's) is totally undermined.

You shouldn't take seriously everything you read on website blog comments, Steve - people will write all sorts of drivel out there!

(...oh, wait... doh!)

[Gibby]

my point was more that with a nod to fairness and due process a man shouldn't lose his job over a private failing followed by a tabloid trial. and I think its way OTT to compare it to 'Adultery, murder, theft... sure as long as it doesn’t interfere with the football!' . I think you'll reflect on that sentence Stocki. He's not Shipman, Biggs or even Glitter, he's a man like many other who failed to resist temptation, when he should have.

[Paul Hutchinson]

yeah okay, fair comment Gibby.
The point about due process is well taken.

[Soapboxrants.wordpress.com]

Although the failing isn't entirely private, and does affect his public life. In terms of leadership, our character and who we are/what we do in private will always impinge on public life, no matter how long it takes.

Thanks for the reminder about JT's wife, who no-one seems to be thinking much about - even John.

[David Quinney Mee]

Just to throw another ball on the field -(Can the football industry cope with more than one at a time? If it had two it might take some other things seriously?) When we have finished getting upset (no arguments about that) about sex, will the issue of the football slave trade, or the vast amounts of money thrown around in that game (and many others) ever become an issue to think through? What role models are already offered by these millionaires and their various partners? Is 'moral sensitivity' only triggered when they get into the wrong beds?

David QM

[Gareth]

Stocki I think your article as ever is fair and gracious, however I find it difficult to reconcile it with your comments about Iris Robinson, or your glowing eulogy to George Best when Belfast’s genius passed away in 2005. There was no mention of Best’s affairs during that posting, yet Best was infinitely more adulterous than Terry. Could it be that the only difference between the two was that Best was handsome, charismatic and charming? And dare I say it, Irish?

I recall trying to challenge Clinton’s ability to lead the free world in 1996 after he had been exposed for a failing in his private life. And whilst at the time I argued that there was no way a man who could have such poor judgement should be allowed to remain President of the United States, with the wisdom of hindsight it seems that the incident had no impact on it at all.