Morning:
6°c
Sepp Blatter: In some countries John Terry would be applauded
Matthew Beard, Olympics Editor11 Feb 2010
John Terry would have been applauded for his extra-marital affair if he lived in Italy or Spain, according to the head of world football.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter said Terry would not have been sacked as national team captain in Latin countries after the revelation of his affair with Vanessa Perroncel.
Terry, 29, who today flew to Dubai in an attempt to patch up his relationship with wife Toni over the Valentine's Day weekend, was stripped of the England captain's armband last Friday by national coach Fabio Capello.
He was escorted to the plane at Heathrow airport shortly after 8.30am, wearing blue jeans and a white hoodie.
Mr Blatter, in Vancouver for the International Olympic Committee's annual meeting, joked that in countries such as France, Italy and Spain, Terry's conduct may not have been considered a problem.
He said: “Listen, this is a special approach in the Anglo-Saxon countries. If this had happened in let's say Latin countries then I think he would have been applauded.”
Mr Blatter, who is Swiss, has repeatedly attracted controversy as the most powerful man in world football. He was roundly condemned in 2004 when he suggested women footballers play in “more feminine clothes” and “tighter shorts” to attract more male fans.
Terry, who was blamed for both goals Chelsea conceded in last night's defeat at Everton, reportedly had a strained hour-long phone conversation with his 28-year-old wife before the game.
Afterwards she sat “glum and dejected” beside a hotel swimming pool while one of the couple's three-year-old twins, Summer Rose, apparently sobbed as she asked for her dad.
One onlooker claimed in The Sun: “She was crying her eyes out, the poor mite. I heard Toni say Don't worry, daddy's coming tomorrow'.”
Terry is due to arrive in Dubai around 8pm local time. His wife has been there with their children and her parents since the scandal broke.
Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins denied Terry's performance last night was the first sign of him cracking under the pressure of his relationship with French lingerie model Perroncel, 33, the former partner of Terry's ex-Chelsea team-mate Wayne Bridge.
Wilkins said: “Not at all. John has been absolutely outstanding for us all season.”
Reader views (46)
Hope England keeps this crap up until 6/15. We will need your minds off football so we can kick your ass
- American, USA, 12/02/2010 03:04
Report abuse
This whole discussion is rubbish, OK so John Terry has been playing away from home Am I bothered? Do I look Bothered? Well I ain't but what I am bothered a bout is Do we need him in the England Team? I say No we do not OK
- Paul, Beckenham,Kent, 11/02/2010 22:50
Report abuse
His comment smacks of misogyny - this hatred and mistreatment of women - which is such a worrying trend - is it the affair which people condemn Terry for or because the affair was with the ex-partner of a male teammate? so if he had the affair with anyone else, that would be ok? to hurt his wife and child in this way? I guess in Latin countries and certain circles, it's ok to treat women like disposable rubbish....
- Af, London, UK, 11/02/2010 21:22
Report abuse
"Sepp Blater obviously doesn't understand the British. It has nothing to do with morals or double standards. The British hate winners and any discrepency in their professional or private lives will do to slag them off.
- Bj, East London"
Being a "winner" doesn't excuse adultery. Adultery with a teammate's partner to boot.
Football is once again brought into disrepute by a disgusting immoral idiot and by the likes of you who worship at his feet and make him feel untouchable.
- Maz, Yorkshire, 11/02/2010 20:20
Report abuse
If he had that behaviour in Spain, his wife would've chopped his jacobs off him.
- A., London, Uk., 11/02/2010 20:17
Report abuse
"In some countries John Terry would be applauded"
and.....in some countries, he's would be castrated or stoned to death...hahaha
- Ricardo, seville, spain, 11/02/2010 20:04
Report abuse
what a stupid comment to make
- Michael, Cheshunt, 11/02/2010 17:58
Report abuse
I don't know who the hypocrite is. Chelsea or Terry? After alol the important games he goes on holiday to see his wife he has humiliated consistently without a public apology. Low life in any clothes is still low life.
- Sorie Kamara 'Kamsoman', LONDON, UK, 11/02/2010 17:19
Report abuse
In some countries Sepp Blater's comments and idea's are taken seriously. Only joking, nowhere takes him seriously.
- Mark Taylor, Dronfield, England, 11/02/2010 17:05
Report abuse
This is a message for the "Head of World Football"
your game was invented here in England,and if you behave like a stupid fool,you get treated like one.
- Davey_Bouy, Chertsey, 11/02/2010 17:01
Report abuse
Sepp Blater is Swiss, so surely he should be neutral.
- Jose Luis, London SW18, 11/02/2010 16:45
Report abuse
And would these Latin countries have 'applauded' the abortion of the baby that accompanied the affair. And would they have applauded had it been Mrs Terry who had the affair. Hmmm. I don't think we need lectures from well known sexist Sepp Blatter. He might be better advised in helping football clubs stay afloat financially, perhaps by reducing the ridiculous salaries of so many of the players. I think we are mad in the UK to have anything to do with the likes of Mr Blatter and his approach to life. It also seems time to let Mr and Mrs Terry sort out their problems and also the unforunate Ms Perroncel.
- Hleen, norwich, 11/02/2010 15:32
Report abuse
In some countries the general public would realise there are more important issues than JT playing away. Election, interest rates, recession, Haiti, Afghan war....etc. I think it comes down to fact he earns alot of cash from doing something he enjoys & there are some very jealous/bitter people around. Remember Bill Clinton, Prince Charles..etc. There was no public request for sackings with these 2, who are way higher in public view than JT. Too many hypocrites posting comments who are not whiter than white.
- Get Real, London, 11/02/2010 15:29
Report abuse
What kind of Man is this that he feels it necessary to feed the British Media with more drivel and headline.
..........Er and this makes the honarable Sepp Blater an even more derided fool at the top of world Football.
I think it was his comment last year that women footballers play in hot pants not shorts that made me laugh the most.
- Tony, Hove England, 11/02/2010 15:27
Report abuse
He said this jokingly, but stressed it is indeed that way in some nations, meaning, maybe he should not have been stripped of his captaincy for this.
- Dirk Diggler, Soho, London, 11/02/2010 15:24
Report abuse
"Maybe, let those who are without sin or never cheated on any human being be critical on JT."
- Kofi-Gimel(P&S Of Ep), London, UK
Thank you I will.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 11/02/2010 14:29
Report abuse
Mr Blatter in some countries,sex outside marriage is considered a crime,for example,DUBAI.Adultery,you get the death penalty.
- David Nigel Braham, Milan Italy, 11/02/2010 13:55
Report abuse
How would Sepp Blatter respond if John Terry's wife was his daughter? Would he applaud him? I don't think so.
- Paul, Bedfordshire, 11/02/2010 13:53
Report abuse
PURE GOLD!
- Andy, highgate, 11/02/2010 13:45
Report abuse
How can you compare John Terry with Italian and Spanish footballers? They are gorgeous and he most certainly is not.
- Julie, London, 11/02/2010 13:32
Report abuse
Sepp Blater obviously doesn't understand the British. It has nothing to do with morals or double standards. The British hate winners and any discrepency in their professional or private lives will do to slag them off.
- Bj, East London, 11/02/2010 13:31
Report abuse
I love Blatter... best free comedy show in town
- Amir, London, 11/02/2010 13:30
Report abuse
This sums Sepp Blater up... The man is a fool not only in footballing terms, but morally... In which country does cheating on your wife with your best friends partner bring applause?
- Rob Gooner, North London, 11/02/2010 13:16
Report abuse
Extraordinary thing to say. Terry was rightly sacked for bringing his personal life into football. Trouble with Terry is that he looks 38 but acts like an immature 28 yr old.
- Dhan Raj, Basildon, 11/02/2010 13:06
Report abuse
I can imagine Signor Capello`s first words to John Terry " Are you sure your not Italian, John ?"
- Steve, Bromley, 11/02/2010 12:57
Report abuse
Blatter is a neanderthal. He was made to look a complete incompetent and buffoon with his embarassing handling of Thierry Henry's cheating Ireland out of the World Cup. He should stop venturing out from his cave and ventilating his bile.
- Sensible Opinion, N5, 11/02/2010 12:56
Report abuse
Odd. I thought Capello was Italian. I'm probably mistaken.
- Londoner, London, 11/02/2010 12:55
Report abuse
Its a mistake to throw too much money at people with a very low IQ...john Terry is a good example of this folly,brains in his feet.
- Jacob, Canterburied in debt EUSSR, 11/02/2010 12:47
Report abuse
Welcome to Britain,we have no standards.ps,are we getting the World Cup in 2018
- Dave, london, 11/02/2010 12:47
Report abuse
hoorey he has gone to dubai now lets get some news on the front pages (no disrespect to john)
- Stephen O M, woodford green essex, 11/02/2010 12:45
Report abuse
Sepp Blatter has long been suspect as the boss of FIFA. Corruption is a word that has been used in the same sentence as FIFA. Frankly, I would not let the man run my bath.
As to his comments on John Terry, he shows himself unfit to hold high office and he should be removed.
- Lester May, Camden Town, London, 11/02/2010 12:40
Report abuse
What an idiotic and offensive comment from Blatter. Confirmation that football is populated by ignorant and disconnected fools all the way up to the top. Hope the that recession will knock these people down a peg or two
- Giuseppe, United Kingdom, 11/02/2010 12:37
Report abuse
Thanks Sepp! John is so happy that he has FIFA’s backing & your support and he can use this when he appeals. Seems that Toni & John got something extra to celebrate in Dubai!
- Jade, London, 11/02/2010 12:21
Report abuse
Hilarious - I wonder if this chap would applaud Terry's wife, if it were her having the affair.
- Suzy, London, UK, 11/02/2010 12:18
Report abuse
So Blatt the pratt strikes again - but Terry lives in UK where slightly different standards apply - blatt advocates handball goals and marriage infidelity - what next?
- Clive, Shortlands UK, 11/02/2010 12:16
Report abuse
To Robbie Chelski, Moscow - err maybe the money? just a hunch.
- Mark, London, 11/02/2010 12:10
Report abuse
what is wrong with this woman!!...once again forgiving the serial love cheat. she has the ammo to take this fool to the cleaners once and for all, and its not for the poor kids either, as terry obviously has never once taken into account how this all affects them now and in the future.
all this vile guy thinks about is himself
- Steve, thailand, 11/02/2010 12:07
Report abuse
Moral leadership is not in Sepp Blatter's job description.
- Bloke, Lambeth, 11/02/2010 12:04
Report abuse
He's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.
If he had stayed here and played football, you would all be whinging that he cares more about a game than he does about his marriage.
Cut him a bit of slack, because at least he's giving it a try.
- Barry, Welwyn England, 11/02/2010 11:57
Report abuse
Security at Heathrow looks good? A photographer that close as he's getting on the aircraft? Not good.
- Lance Johnson, Canterbury, Kent, 11/02/2010 11:39
Report abuse
ROFL. What a berk.
- Sally, hertford UK, 11/02/2010 11:28
Report abuse
Maybe, let those who are without sin or never cheated on any human being be critical on JT. Hypocrites! some of you are probably worse.
- Kofi-Gimel(P&S Of Ep), London, UK, 11/02/2010 11:13
Report abuse
Why on earth would Mrs Terry want to spend Valentines day with a serial cheat?
- Robbie Chelski, Moscow, 11/02/2010 10:53
Report abuse
Very brave of him
- Londoner, London, 11/02/2010 09:56
Report abuse
I wish he had taken his days off a couple of days earlier and missing on the Everton match. He was at fault for both goals Chelsea conceeded in their 2-1 defeat.
- Kypros Shacolas, Nicosia - Cyprus, 11/02/2010 09:42
Report abuse
Ahhh, isn't he the good family man.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 11/02/2010 09:38
Report abuse
