FIFA chief Blatter questions Capello appointment on the day England boss officially takes charge

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The Italian officially started work today as Steve McClaren's successor but Blatter has expressed his surprise at England returning to another foreign coach.

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A new era: Capello starts work as England coach today

The FIFA president claimed the FA had "broken a principle of international football" by not choosing an Englishman.

Blatter told BBC Sport: "I have never seen Italy, Germany, Brazil or Argentina with a coach from another country.

"In fact, most of the best teams have a coach from their own country.

"I would say it is a little surprising that the motherland of football has ignored a sacrosanct law or belief that the national team manager should be from the same country as the players."

Blatter said it was now "High Noon" for English football after the failure to qualify for the Euro 2008 finals and insists the domestic football authorities need to address the issue of overseas players in the game.

He added: "When you talk about being a football nation and you look at the big clubs in the Premier League it is not the English or British game that is represented. The clubs are international XIs.

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Outspoken: Blatter has cast doubts over capello's appointment

"There is no doubt that the Premier League is a global success story in terms of marketing and money. But one has to question whether this success has been for the benefit of the game, and not just in England but elsewhere, because the example of football's motherland is important.

"People want the best for their clubs and the Premier League clubs can afford it. But this does not serve football. To serve football you must never forget the national team."