Brace yourself, Fabio: JT will seem like a doddle compared to the overdue Blockbuster fine scandal...

By David Anderson

Published 08:03 10/02/10

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Fabio Capello's decision to strip John Terry of the England captaincy is a bad precedent. The worst, in fact, since George W Bush.

Capello's ruling that indiscretions in his players' private lives have a bearing on their international careers has opened the floodgates.

Several players are nervously hoping the various skeletons in their wardrobes do not get a rattle before the World Cup in South Africa.

One England star, in particular, is sweating on his fine by Blockbuster Video becoming public.

The player, who cannot be named for legal reasons, incurred the £3.75 fine when one of his flunkies forgot to return the DVD within the three-day period agreed for weekend rentals.

But the real shame of this sorry episode was the film rented by this particular player - Mama Mia!

He claims it was for his partner when confronted by journalists, but it has since been ascertained that she was not at home that weekend and hates musicals.

Such a tale of deceit could cost this well-known star his place on the plane to South Africa.

After all, could the England players really trust someone who lied about renting Mama Mia?

Such issues go right to the heart of Capello's new England and can you rely on someone to take a spot-kick in a penalty shoot-out against Germany who has Dancing Queen going round in their head?

The player in question knows the answer to these questions is no and in a desperate attempt to suppress the story, has hired a top lawyer to take out a super injunction.

This player is not the only one using the courts to keep their guilty past a secret.

Another has launched a High Court action to prevent the fact they lied about passing his cycling proficiency test from becoming public.

The player, who is one of the highest-paid stars in the Premier League, told the fib at pre-season training camp last summer when he was told to go on a cycling run.

The coach asked if everyone had passed their cycling proficiency test for insurance purposes because they would be using the public highway and he lied.

Once again this deceit brings into focus Capello's mantra of trust, which is now at the heart of his England squad, and the player knows he will be on his bike if the truth emerges.

It looks like the country's lawyers are going to be kept busy between now and June.

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