Sol Campbell makes England captaincy race allegation

[Red Gunner]

Sol Campbell makes England captaincy race allegation

Sol Campbell has claimed he would have been "England captain for more than 10 years" if he had been born 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 under Sven-Goran Eriksson.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26383249

[augie]

Clearly having another of his breakdowns The man was a good centre back but never a leader of men imo - I know that some believe that some captains lead by example but I prefer a captain who talks to the players during the game and helps organising the team during the game itself. I would suggest that this would be even more important at international level when your team-mates don't have the natural telepathic understanding that comes from playing alongside guys every week at club level

[clockender1]

Bollocks. Paul Ince was captain years before he was playing.

I could understand If he was Arsenal Captain too but he wasn't.

In the last 20 years you had to be a superstar or a united player to be England Kapitan. Race or sexuality was never an issue IMHO.

Sour grapes, Sol. You should be better than that Son.

[g88ner]

I think that's an outrageous thing for Sol to say.

Most fans don't want a black captain? - surely most people don't give a shit about colour?

I really hope the media go to town on him for those ridiculous comments.

[REB]

is he promoting a book ?

does seem a stupid thing to say , he has 73 caps so hardly wasn't picked over his colour and as augie put it he didn't come across as captain material to me either tbh.

[kiwomya]

is he promoting a book ?

does seem a stupid thing to say , he has 73 caps so hardly wasn't picked over his colour and as augie put it he didn't come across as captain material to me either tbh.

The quotes are actually from a book that's coming out.

Not the first time he's made racism claims either.

[TeeCee]

Every few months Sol seems to come out and say something controversial or idiotic. I think he is really clamouring for a career in the media and is desperate for exposure.
Sad, desperate man.

[LDB]

Paranoid, self-centered nonsense like this possibly answers for him why he was never made captain.

[spendsum4uckingmoney]

Very dissapointed in him.

[1989]

Typical Sol. Always been an attention seeker, sensitive and paranoid, very selfish man. Not exactly the personality traits that are fitting for the role of a captain. Perhaps he needs to take a closer look at his character rather his color before running his mouth off.
That being said, what a player he was. Formidable CB, probably the best I've seen in an Arsenal shirt tbh.

[g88ner]

Typical Sol. Always been an attention seeker, sensitive and paranoid, very selfish man. Not exactly the personality traits that are fitting for the role of a captain. Perhaps he needs to take a closer look at his character rather his color before running his mouth off.
That being said, what a player he was. Formidable CB, probably the best I've seen in an Arsenal shirt tbh.

Are you too young to remember Tony Adams? or just rate Sol higher?

[1989]

Rate Sol higher. TA6 was the better leader, but Sol had absolutely everything a CB could wish to have.

[northbank123]

Agree with all of the above. For a start it's shameless plugging of his book.

The race card is so easy to throw about nowadays and it will always garner major coverage with at least some cretins willing to speak up pretending that this is a credible accusation.

And it really does sum up the personality traits that probably made him an inappropriate choice for captain. England only had 2 captains from 1996-2006. Campbell earned his first 3 caps in 1996 and at 21 his skin could have been fluorescent orange and he wouldn't have been made captain. In 2000 he was still playing for a tinpot club that he never guided to higher than 7th and was in the process of running down his deal with them.

[robbo10]

Alex Song would have been Cameroon captain if he was born white,

[robbo10]

Typical Sol. Always been an attention seeker, sensitive and paranoid, very selfish man. Not exactly the personality traits that are fitting for the role of a captain. Perhaps he needs to take a closer look at his character rather his color before running his mouth off.
That being said, what a player he was. Formidable CB, probably the best I've seen in an Arsenal shirt tbh.

Are you too young to remember Tony Adams? or just rate Sol higher?

Did you never see Willie Young?