Fabio Capello backs ‘innocent’ John Terry

EVERYTHING'S FAB ... Fabio Capello insists England are racism free

FABIO CAPELLO has insisted there is no hint of racism within the England camp.

The Three Lions boss is convinced his skipper John Terry is innocent of allegations he racially abused QPR defender Anton Ferdinand while playing for Chelsea a fortnight ago.

Capello said: "In my experience I have never seen, never heard and never found racism problems in England football. Racist problems between the players do not exist."

The Italian has been warned by the FA not to say anything that would prejudice the Met Police investigation into claims against Terry — but he declared he had no problem picking him in his provisional squad to face Spain and Sweden.

The decision to include Terry was taken by Capello after discussions with the biggest hitters in the FA: MD Adrian Bevington, secretary Alex Horne, director of football development Trevor Brooking and chairman David Bernstein.

Capello said: "Everyone spoke about John Terry. We made the decision together and I spoke to his manager Andre Villas-Boas and he told me John Terry would play against Blackburn.

"For this reason I said there is no problem with John Terry. We need to wait to see what will happen about the FA and the police investigation but I can tell you he is innocent until proven guilty."

Capello also denied he left Anton's brother Rio Ferdinand out of his squad to avoid any potential conflict with JT.

He said: "I met him at Alex Ferguson's award dinner and told him, 'Rio, I read what Sir Alex said about you. I think you need to play more games'.

"He said, 'Yes, I need to play because I need to find good form'.

"I hope he will be fit and in good form for the Euros."

Capello insists it would be foolish to try to beat Spain at their own game.

He said: "It is a big mistake to copy this style. It came from the Barca school that started years ago. You need to have this style in the mind to play it."

SQAUD: Hart (Man City), Carson (Bursaspor), Stockdale (Ipswich); G Johnson (Liverpool), Jones (Man Utd), Cahill (Bolton), Terry (Chelsea), Cole (Chelsea), Baines (Everton), Jagielka (Everton), Lescott (Man City), Walker (Tottenham); Lampard (Chelsea), Rodwell (Everton), Downing (Liverpool), Barry (Man City), A Johnson (Man City), Milner (Man City), Parker (Tottenham), Walcott (Arsenal); Bent (Aston Villa), Sturridge (Chelsea), Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Zamora (Fulham), Welbeck (Man Utd).