Goalposts have shifted on footballers' morality

THE affairs of the England football team have seldom been of much concern to our readers. But as the controversy over John Terry, an England defender, has raged elsewhere we feel bound to make a passing observation. Following an affair with the former girlfriend of a team-mate, Mr Terry has been relieved of the captain's arm band by Fabio Capello, the current manager. The decision, which followed considerable ball-passing skills by the FA, was made, said Mr Capello, "after much th

During this eventful period Mr Eriksson was constantly in the public eye because of various affairs whilst dating at the time Nancy Dell'Olio. Girlfriends included the Swedish television presenter Ulrika Jonsson and his secretary at the FA, Faria Alam (who incidentally also had sexual relations with FA chief executive Mark Palios). Mr Eriksson was controversially pipped to the prestigious title of "Durex Man of the Year" by Park Chu-Young in 2006. Other famous footballers who enjoyed female company must include the late George Best, who even had an airport named after him.

Mr Terry's passing flame, Vanessa Perroncel, a lingerie model and former nightclub hostess, has declined to make any further comment. How very wise.