Personally I think Arsehole Campbell is a racist **** http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26383249 Sol Campbell makes England captaincy race allegation Sol Campbell has claimed he would have been "England captain for more than 10 years" had he been white. The former England defender makes the claims in an authorised biography serialised by the Sunday Times. "I believe if I was white, I would have been England captain for more than 10 years - it's as simple as that," said the 39-year-old, who won 73 full caps, including three as captain. The Football Association is aware of the claims but declined to comment. Campbell, who made 646 senior appearances for Tottenham, Arsenal, Portsmouth, Notts County and Newcastle United before retiring in 2012, claimed: "I think the FA wished I was white. I had the credibility, performance-wise, to be captain. "I was consistently in the heart of the defence and I was a club captain early in my career." He added: "I don't think it will change because they don't want it to and probably the majority of fans don't want it either. "It's alright to have black captains and mixed race in the Under-18s and Under-21s but not for the full national side - there is a ceiling and although no-one has ever said it, I believe it's made of glass." Campbell's three games as England captain were in three friendlies - against Belgium and the Czech Republic in 1998 under Glenn Hoddle's management, and against the United States in 2005 when Sven-Goran Eriksson was in charge. The England captains during the centre-back's international career were David Platt, Tony Adams, Alan Shearer, Paul Ince, Stuart Pearce, David Seaman, Martin Keown, David Beckham, Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard and John Terry. Ince became the first black player to captain England in 1993. "Owen was a fantastic forward but nowhere near being a captain," said Campbell. "It was embarrassing. I kept asking myself, 'what have I done?' "I've asked myself many times why I wasn't [made captain]. I keep coming up with the same answer. It was the colour of my skin." The various managers, both permanently and on a temporary basis, in charge of England during Campbell's playing days for the national team between May 1996 and November 2007 were Terry Venables, Hoddle, Howard Wilkinson, Kevin Keegan, Peter Taylor, Eriksson and Steve McClaren. Former FA executive director David Davies says the responsibility of selecting the England captain lay with the manager of the team at the time, rather than English football's governing body. "I was a great fan of Sol Campbell as a player and a person. He made a huge contribution to the England team," Davies told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek programme. "I am perplexed by this because the reality is the England coach in my time selected the captain. "He clearly is upset about that time and perhaps feels he should have been more seriously considered. "I wasn't surprised when Tony Adams was made captain or when David Beckham was made captain first by Peter Taylor, and then Sven-Goran Eriksson." Martin Keown played alongside Campbell for Arsenal and England. He thinks his former team-mate could have aired his views in a less controversial manner. "I'm disappointed," he told BBC MOTD2 Extra. "I know Sol very well. He is a good friend of mine and we shared a dressing room for many years. "Yes, he was deserving of being England captain probably more often but I understand why he wasn't. "In terms of David Beckham, he was almost like a global brand. Michael Owen was assured of his place for probably the next 10 years so when those decisions were made that would have come into it. "I think Sol could have gone about this in a different way. If he genuinely feels that way then we have to respect his view but I feel he could have done something on the inside and talked to people. I don't know if we need this sensationalism." He added: "I think the FA has to respond to this. We've got a lot of young black players coming into the game. Yes, there aren't enough as coaches, managers or in the administration side - that is an issue. "But we have had black captains and this is dragging us back through a bridge we have already crossed, although we still need to look into it."
A very good player, but not good Captain material imo. Not a natural leader on the pitch and fairly quiet. Bobby Charlton was only Captain for 3 games............was that because he was white? I'm afraid Sol has always been a whiner! Captain for 10 years my arse!!
His best time (and oppertunity to be England captain) was at Arsenal, and they had some of the best captains like Adams and Seaman, but you go ahead and play the card regardless ... please log in to view this image
Well this is going to go well....??!! He may have some valid concerns but he's gone about it the wrong way. Paul Ince being captain really makes a mockery of his whole statement.
Mate, you cant deny that thier are race issues in football but Im not buying into Campbells story entirely.
Dont think anyone could deny there is a race issue in football. And in Sol's days, even more so. But that doesn't mean you promote those of minority ethnic or racial background because of the race or ethnicity. But to whine about it now, when it is pure conjecture, is sensationalism which is not constructive.
The funny thing is Campbell saying this is the reason why he wasnt captain. Same goes for ince banging on about him not getting a PL job because he's black when in reality its clearly because he's ****. Playing the race card is the worst thing you can do because it devalues the legitimate complaints.
Campbell has a book coming out soon so this outburst seems "convenient" to say the least But I think he has shot himself in the foot as even less people will want to read it now.... Sol was a great player but not a captain and other players around him (black or white) were more suitable ....
