Terry given strong reminder of responsibilities by England

zocoss SG

The Chelsea skipper uses notorious ticket tout Tony Bruce as a fixer. On Thursday the pair took 200 £50 notes from News of the World investigators for a tour of the Premier League team's five-star training facility.

Terry, 29, said his share would go to a kids' charity but insisted we keep the deal secret, adding: "If the club finds out, it's a little bit. . ."

Terry took the secret £10,000 cash payment this week to lay on a behind-the-scenes tour of Chelsea's training ground.

He arranged the backstage visit for an undercover News of the World team WITHOUT permission from his club's boss Carlo Ancelotti.

And it was all fixed by middle-man Tony Bruce, 58 - a well-known ticket tout. Multi-millionaire Terry told our men he would give his £8,000 share of the fee to the Make A Wish charity that fixes treats for terminally ill children. The remaining £2,000 went to Bruce for his "cut."

The £160,000-a-week defender hosted our three reporters, posing as rich businessmen, for more than two hours at the state-of-the-art ground in Cobham, Surrey.

He gave them a full tour of the facilities and showed off star players Didier Drogba and Michael Ballack as they lounged in a Jacuzzi in their underpants.

And he laid on lunch in the canteen where the £10,000 in £50 notes was handed over to Bruce in a black folder as a smiling Terry looked on. Just yards away manager Ancelotti, 50, was also dining, without a clue about the huge sum of money changing hands nearby.

It was then the soccer star and the tout went to great pains to insist we keep all details of the pricey visit under our hats - for fear the club's management would find out and end Terry's private wheeler-dealing.

With a grin Terry whispered: "If the club finds out, it's a little bit. . . you know."

Sharp-suited Bruce - from Bromley, Kent - warned that if problems ever arose HE would take the rap and we must DENY Terry was involved.

He said: "If anything ever goes wrong, then you say, 'John didn't know nothing about that.'

"John just can turn round and say, 'Tony Bruce, he shouldn't be doing that.' He can deny it." Terry nodded his head and said: "Yeah."

Then Bruce mentioned the money. One of our men produced the cash in a black folder and said: "Yeah, I've got 10 grand here." Bruce said: "Right, give that to me." And Terry chipped in: "Give it to Tony."

A delighted Terry watched as the money was handed over. The whole deal was secretly videoed by our team and we are making it available to Chelsea and the Football Association.

Terry - worth £17million according to the Sunday Times Rich List - offered to lay on THREE more similar tours of the training ground over the next few weeks.

Bruce said future visits would be fine provided we came up with "the readies". Terry told our team: "Yeah, we can sort that out." Terry then again impressed on us how it was important the arrangements were kept secret from anyone else at the club.

Told there would be more clients next week, Terry said: "Yeah, but you brief them that they don't speak to no one. Cos if anyone finds out, then we can't do it no more.

"If you sort of brief them before, we can do as many as. . . and go through Tony."

Bruce - a friend of Terry since he was a Chelsea trainee - then underlined his buddy's concern, repeating that the visits would need to be "very, very low profile". And Terry agreed: "Yeah."

Our revelations are sure to anger boss Ancelotti. He will be alarmed his captain is allowing strangers access to the club's inner sanctum behind his back for money. Terry even gave an insight into tactics as the team prepared for today's match against West Ham.

Thursday morning's ground visit was arranged after a two-month News of the World investigation into financial deals involving Terry. Bruce had already sorted us a £5,000 box at Wembley for an England under-21 match AND touted 11 tickets - which he bragged came from players - for Chelsea's crunch home game against Man United.

Bruce originally asked £5,000 for a private meeting with the England skipper at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge ground - "as long as John's happy with the fees".

But when the venue was switched to the training ground the price doubled - because Terry wanted a "little bit more" for the privileged access.

We were already investigating Terry when a marketing firm to which he is linked sparked comment by sending out an email, featuring the FIFA World Cup logo, looking for commercial endorsements ahead of next year's finals.

Terry was not in breach of any rules and insisted the email had been sent without his knowledge. But senior figures at the FA were embarrassed because it made the England captain look "greedy".

And England boss Fabio Capello is said to be concerned that Terry is too money-orientated, particularly at a time when the Chelsea team he leads is leaking goals. The evening before our meeting Terry had skippered Chelsea in an unconvincing 2-1 win over bottom club Portsmouth.

When our men arrived at Cobham at 10.30am we were asked to sign in at the main entrance as guests of 'JT' before being led up to the players' dining area. Access to the ground is strictly controlled. And reporters have been known to need 48 hours' notice to gain admittance.

But our men were ushered through without any fuss. Terry, in a Chelsea training top, was buttering toast as he greeted us with warm handshakes. He smiled and said: "Help yourselves to breakfast. Do you want tea or coffee?" Thanked for sorting the trip out, Terry replied: "Yeah, no problem. Any time for Tony." At Terry's invitation we were then allowed to watch the Chelsea stars train for 90 minutes before joining him for lunch in the canteen and handing over the cash. Bruce said: "I'll have to give it to him discreetly."

Terry then sat with us, chatted about the World Cup and we discussed a proposed deal where he would be an ambassador for a fake private travel service. Terry indicated he may do the work but Bruce butted in, saying: "Because of obviously John being England captain, you gotta be careful who you deal with.

"If you got people out there with money to burn, I can definitely help with that. I'm that kind of guy, John, you know what I mean?" Bruce and Terry then laughed together.

After lunch, Terry gave us a 20-minute tour of the luxury facilities. He bragged: "It's good to see behind the scenes." He took us to an area where team-mates, including goalie Petr Cech, were playing table tennis and then past the Jacuzzi where Ballack and Drogba were half-naked in their underpants. Then Terry sought to impress his high-rolling guests by going into a massage room where a sparsely-clad Joe Cole was receiving treatment.

In the boot room we saw young apprentices cleaning the star players' boots.

Terry then gave us three Chelsea team shirts and signed each one. Joking about the money we were paying, Bruce quipped: "You putting your account details on there, aren't you, John?" The player just laughed.

As we left Bruce offered more visits to Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal and Tottenham, naming two high-profile figures who could help lay them on.

Poignant SG

the news of the world always like that one

zocoss SG

Very good what... Full marks to them for a job well done... Going under cover and all their hard work has paid off... Kids charity... lol. like real.

At least now we know JT would do such a thing for just $8k when he earn $160k a week... And will always deny and let others take the blame when things are exposed... This time cannot run or find a fall guy cos got video and voice recording all... I am guessing Terry won't be having any special guests over at Chelsea anytime soon... lol

Ancelotti must be wondering after reading this... wtf this guy doing side-line ah?

Rooney9 SG

he is already very rich, why does he need to do that for a mere 10k?

a case of greed, not satisfied of earning 160k pounds a week. even 10m pounds will not satisfy this guy. insatiable greed.

Poignant SG

seriously, notw damn bo liao.

always bo tai bo zi go find things do.

first his father, now him. wtf?

zocoss SG

John Terry is seriously jeopardising his dual role as the captain of England and Chelsea as senior Football Association officials are growing increasingly concerned about him and his off-field activities.

The centre back, who skippered Chelsea to a 1-1 draw at West Ham yesterday, has an estimated fortune worth £17million thanks to his £170,000-a-week salary.

Yet he started the day at the centre of further unsavoury newspaper revelations as he was exposed for organising a secret tour of Chelsea’s training ground, apparently in exchange for a £10,000 cash payment that was made in the staff canteen while manager Carlo Ancelotti was dining at a nearby table.

Despite issuing a formal denial of any impropriety, it is understood that privately, Chelsea are distinctly unimpressed, while the FA have expressed concern over Terry’s newspaper column deal with The Sun and suggestions that he has gone against the wishes of England manager Fabio Capello and booked his family into Sun City for the World Cup.

The latest controversy saw Terry, accompanied by well-known ticket tout Tony Bruce, tell undercover reporters from the News of the World that the arrangements for the training ground tour had to be kept secret for fear that the club would ‘find out’.

‘If anything ever goes wrong, then you say “John didn’t know nothing about that”,’ Bruce told the reporters who were secretly filming the visit.

Terry told the journalists he would be donating his share to charity and last night Chelsea issued an almost comical statement attempting to exonerate their captain, although it appears they had not been aware in advance of his ‘private’ tour arrangements.

But this comes after Sportsmail’s recent revelations that Terry had enlisted the help of a marketing company, Riviera Entertainment Limited, to cash in on the England captain’s armband, prompting one FA official to say he had made himself look ‘greedy’.

‘John Terry is available to create effective brand awareness and endorse products and services globally,’ said the email that used the official FIFA World Cup logo without permission and, much to the surprise of Stamford Bridge officials, used an image of Terry in a Chelsea strip.

Gaff: Terry landed himself in hot water last month when a marketing company encouraged people to use the Chelsea captain as a brand

It then reminded potentially interested parties that ‘John Terry is: British sporting hero; England’s football captain; World Cup 2018 ambassador; Football icon; Dad of the year 2008; Voted as one of the World’s most influencial (sic) people.’

Even though Riviera claim to have a contractual agreement with him, Terry issued a statement saying the email had been circulated without his permission.

And yesterday came another denial, this time from his club. ‘Chelsea FC hosts a large number of visitors at the training ground throughout the year,’ said the statement. ‘The majority of which are made up of club sponsors, our charity partners and supporters.

Mr England: But for how much longer?

‘The players play a big part in these visits and John Terry naturally has a leading role, hosting a significant number of children and their families this season through our partner charities Help a London Child and Right to Play. John has also organised a number of visits for families with sick children as a result of personal correspondence.

‘Contrary to media reports and the appearance of edited video this morning, the club is confident that at no time did John Terry ask for, or accept any money in relation to visits to the training ground. Chelsea gives our players room to exercise their discretion when contacted personally with regard to visits, and the club keeps security and access to the training ground and Stamford Bridge under constant review.

‘However, as a result of the security breach highlighted by today’s article, we will be further reviewing access to our facilities and clamping down where there are gaps in the process.’

Ancelotti also stood by his captain after his side’s draw yesterday.

‘This is not correct. This is not true. I think the club, me, the players, have a lot of confidence in John Terry. John Terry did nothing wrong,’ he said.

SomebodyInSG SG

Seems like a very deliberate attempt to run his reputation into the ground.

I believe whether right or wrong according to the rules, there are things not known and not in context.

Poignant SG

news of the world always creating troubles

SomebodyInSG SG

Chelsea have defended captain John Terry after allegations that he took secret cash payments to lay on a behind-the-scenes tour of the club's training ground.

GettyImages

Carlos Ancelotti reportedly had no knowledge of the tours.

But the Premier League leaders admitted they would be beefing up security after the revelations in a Sunday newspaper.

It is alleged that the England skipper arranged the backstage visit by an undercover reporter without permission from manager Carlo Ancelotti.

But a Chelsea spokesman said: ''Chelsea FC host a large number of visitors at the training ground throughout the year, the majority of which are made up of club sponsors, our charity partners and supporters.

''The players play a big part in these visits and John Terry naturally has a leading role, hosting a significant number of children and their families this season through our partner charities 'Help A London Child' and 'Right To Play.'

''John has also organised a number of visits for families with sick children as a result of personal correspondence.

''Contrary to media reports and the appearance of edited video this morning the club is confident that at no time did Terry ask for or accept money in relation to visits to the training ground.''

The News of the World claimed that £160,000-a-week Terry took a £10,000 payment, £8,000 of which he wanted to go to the 'Make A Wish' charity for children with the other £2,000 going to a middleman.

Chelsea, however, deny any wrongdoing and say they will be stepping up security procedures.

The statement added: ''Chelsea FC gives our players room to exercise their own discretion when contacted personally with regard to visits and the club keeps security and access to the training ground at Stamford Bridge under constant review.

''However, as a result of the security breach highlighted by today's article we will be further reviewing access to our facilities and clamping down where there are gaps in the process.''

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti insisted he had ''a lot of confidence'' in Terry after Blues had drawn 1-1 against West Ham at Upton Park.

Ancelotti played down the allegations, claiming: ''This is not correct. This is not true. The club, me, the players, have a lot of confidence in John Terry and John Terry did nothing wrong. He was very quiet, very calm, very concentrated for the game. No problem.''

When asked whether Terry had told him the story was not true, Ancelotti added: ''Yes. I have a lot of confidence in my captain.''

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=715998&sec=england&cc=4716

SomebodyInSG SG

iceFatboy SG

news of the world always creating troubles

u so sure they "created" or they were just using what's available already??

zocoss SG

December 22, 2009

The latest negative headlines to afflict Terry, the Chelsea central defender, have been the subject of private incredulity from Capello

John Terry received a stern reminder yesterday of his responsibilities as England captain from a senior member of Fabio Capello’s coaching team.

The Chelsea defender is understood to have made contact with the FA in an attempt to give his version of events after allegations by a Sunday newspaper that he was paid £10,000 for offering a secret tour of the club’s training ground. It led to a frank conversation with one of England’s coaches, which has been relayed to Capello.

The England manager is believed to have accepted Terry’s explanation that he did not receive any money and was merely offering a favour to a personal friend, Tony Bruce, the ticket tout, but still felt the need to remind him that his position carries certain expectations in terms of public behaviour and conduct. The Italian is understood to have been astonished when he heard of the latest embarrassment to befall Terry, and has expressed, in private, incredulity at his naivety in allowing himself to be exposed in such a manner, irrespective of his intentions.

Capello has reassured Terry that his position as captain has not been jeopardised, as he still considers him to be an inspirational leader on the pitch and in the dressing room, but warned him that his judgment off the field needs to improve. The Italian has made a point of reminding all of his players of the responsibilities that come with representing England on a regular basis, but a little more than six months before the World Cup finals there is a feeling in the manager’s inner circle that the message may not have got through.

Also a concern for Capello is the potential impact that repeated bad publicity could have on Terry’s mental state in what promises to be the most important season of his career. He has had to contend with a spate of humiliating headlines in the past few months. His father, Ted, was filmed allegedly arranging to pass a Class A drug to an undercover reporter last month, while his mother, Sue, and Sue Poole, his mother-in-law, were cautioned for shoplifting after being caught with £800 worth of clothes and groceries from Tesco and Marks & Spencer. Terry’s performances have dipped in the past few weeks as Chelsea have won only one of their past six matches, but Carlo Ancelotti, his club manager, remains unconcerned.

Senior FA figures have also expressed disquiet at the negative publicity, particularly Terry’s apparent determination to gain as much commercial value as possible from his position as England captain, a stance that some feel demeans the office. The 29-year-old has signed a lucrative contract to provide exclusive columns to a tabloid newspaper, and last month Riviera Entertainment Ltd, a marketing company, circulated an e-mail announcing that he was eager to maximise his earning potential.

Terry denied having given permission to Riviera to send that speculative e-mail, which among many excruciating claims declared the availability of “a British sporting hero” and “Dad of the year 2008 . . . to create effective brand awareness and endorse products and services globally”, but the damage was done. The FA has also taken a dim view of Sunday’s revelations, though it is not planning to intervene and will leave any action to Capello.

Terry last night attended a Fifa gala in Zurich, where he gave warning of the threat posed by the United States in England’s World Cup finals group. “Everyone’s getting carried away and thinks it’s going to be an easy group,” he said. “The Americans are going to be a really tough game. Over the last four or five years, [their] improvement has been massive. We’ve seen some of the [US] players coming to the Premiership, some well-known faces and players across the world now playing at the highest stage.”