Should John Terry be axed as England Captain?

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Fabio Capello has been warned the atmosphere in the England camp at this summer's European Championship will be "toxic" if he persists with his plans to include John Terry and the Football Association decides against overruling the national team manager.

The warning came as the executive director of Football Against Racism in Europe called for the FA to remove Terry's captaincy. "The seriousness of the allegations mean that he can't lead the nation," Piara Powar said. "The FA must do the right thing."

As it stands, Terry is free to captain England after pleading not guilty to a racially aggravated public order offence against Anton Ferdinand when Chelsea played Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road in October. The prosecution initially hoped to arrange a date in March but the trial has been fixed for 9 July, a delay that threatens ramifications for Rio Ferdinand, the brother of Anton.

If Capello selects Rio, it raises the possibility of him and Terry being asked to partner one another in central defence just a few weeks before Terry appears at Westminster magistrates court. The Manchester United player's involvement is not guaranteed after an injury-troubled season but, if named in Capello's squad, he would have to consider whether he wants to take part when the issue is unresolved.

Capello had consistently stressed before Terry was charged that, as far as he and the FA were concerned, the player would be considered innocent unless it was proven otherwise and he was therefore entitled to retain the captaincy. The Italian now faces the possibility of a second successive major tournament in which Terry's participation is threatening division behind the scenes.

Before the World Cup Terry's falling-out with his former Chelsea team-mate Wayne Bridge led to the left-back withdrawing from contention. The latest case presents similar issues and prompted one footballer, Jason Roberts, to express his concerns, via Twitter, about the FA's stance. "Believe me, the dressing room at the Euros will be TOXIC unless the correct decision is made," Roberts said in one message. In another, he added: "I do not believe that the England captain should go to the Euros."

Roberts, a campaigner for Kick It Out, went on to point out that the FA's policy with Terry was different to the stance it took when Rio Ferdinand was excluded from England duty before his hearing into forgetting a drugs test. The Reading striker wrote: "Innocent until proven guilty is not always the case in football, as @rioferdy5 [Ferdinand] found out in his case." He added: "In many workplaces an allegation of certain behaviour is an immediate suspension."

Powar also voiced his feelings on Twitter. "Innocent until proven guilty. But should John Terry remain as England captain through the Euros? I can't see how he can. To be captain means to be the leader. You have to take everyone with you. Removing the captaincy does not prejudice case."

Damian Collins MP, a member of the House of Commons culture, media and sport select committee, tweeted to say: "John Terry should stand aside as captain until the case is resolved, and any doubt either way removed."

The trial has been held over until the summer after the district judge was asked to consider Terry's playing commitments between now and the end of June and took into account a letter from the Chelsea chief executive, Ron Gourlay.

Chelsea were concerned about the potential for disruption when they could still be involved in the Champions League. England then have friendly fixtures against Norway on 26 May and Belgium on 2 June and Euro 2012 takes place in Poland and Ukraine from 8 June to 1 July. Anton Ferdinand's commitments to QPR over the remainder of the season, ending on 13 May, were also taken into account.

Terry's legal team released a statement after Wednesday's hearing describing him as "shocked and disgusted" by the accusation. "Mr Terry has consistently and resolutely maintained that his well-publicised remarks were made in the belief that he was being accused of racist abuse by Mr Ferdinand. Mr Terry denies making any racist statement, and will establish in court that he is not guilty of such offence. Mr Terry has never racially abused another player in his entire career."

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Terry now stripped of England captaincy

John Terry has been stripped of the England captaincy by the Football Association's chairman, David Bernstein. The defender was informed of the decision by Bernstein in a phone call on Friday morning. It is the second time that he has lost the captaincy for off-the-pitch reasons.

Reports suggest the decision was made by Bernstein after discussion with the other members of the FA's 14-strong board yesterday. It is believed that Terry will still be available for selection in England's squad for Euro 2012. Terry is not expected to responded to the news immediately.

The announcement on Wednesday that Terry's trial for racially abusing the Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand during a Premier League game played last October had been scheduled for 9 July, leaving the Chelsea centre-back free to represent and possibly captain his country at Euro 2012, which ends a week earlier.

But anti-racism campaigners were among those who insisted that a footballer should not lead his country while facing charges of such magnitude. "The seriousness of the allegations mean that he can't lead the nation," said Piara Powar, executive director of Football Against Racism in Europe. "The FA must do the right thing."

The England manager, Fabio Capello, is out of the country, and due to return to watch a Premier League game on Saturday. He had selected Terry for the matches against Spain and Sweden last November despite the allegations, after consulting senior figures at the FA including Bernstein. "We need to wait what will happen about the FA investigation and the police investigation, but I can tell you he is innocent until proven guilty," the Italian said at the time. "This is a really important thing for me and the FA."

Terry has consistently denied racially abusing Ferdinand. "I will fight tooth and nail to prove my innocence," he said when the criminal charge was announced in December. "I have campaigned against racism and believe there is no place for it in society." Terry's barrister on Wednesday entered a formal not guilty plea at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

It is the second time that Terry has been stripped of the England captaincy, the previous occasion coming in 2010 after intense speculation about the player's private life.