Respect my authority: Capello in
no mood to compromise with arrongance or petulance from his England
players
Fabio Capello will lecture England's players on their
behaviour after witnessing Chelsea's disgraceful hounding of
referee Mike Riley at Tottenham on Wednesday night.
The England coach, who recalled David Beckham to a provisional
England squad and introduced new boy David Wheater of Middlesbrough
yesterday, is a strong supporter of the FA's campaign demanding
more respect for referees.
Ashley Cole apologised for his behaviour after the 4-4 draw
following a shocking challenge on Alan Hutton. The Chelsea and
England full back was booked, but only after turning away from
referee Mike Riley as part of an animated protest backed by
team-mates John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba.
Capello was said to be "disappointed" by the behaviour of three
senior England players but Cole said: "I'd like to apologise to
anyone I offended and, of course, Alan Hutton. I didn't mean to go
in hard that way. It was high but I tried to read the ball and get
the ball first, but he was a little bit too quick for me. "It
wasn't malicious and I'm a little bit disappointed that people
think I meant it. It was a bad tackle, but in the heat of the
moment you want to win the game and win every tackle."
In an interview with Chelsea's TV channel, he then said: "I'm an
emotional person. Things can happen on the pitch very quickly. But
I didn't mean to disrespect the referee. I recognise this is a part
of my game I need to work on and control."
Capello will address the issue when players meet for next week's
friendly against France in Paris. Sir Trevor Brooking, the FA's
director of football development, revealed he "approved of the
initiative". Capello believes his players need to remember they
represent England on and off the pitch — in the case of Terry, when
he takes the family for lunch.
The Chelsea skipper this week parked his Bentley in a disabled
parking spot while eating at a pizza restaurant, happy, it seems,
to take the £60 parking fine. That episode could harm his chances
of continuing as England captain.