CAPELLO RAGES AS PLAYER BREAKS PHONE BAN

Incensed Italian hurls tray at wall

By Neil Ashton, 17/10/2009

FURIOUS Fabio Capello stunned his England stars when he hurled a metal food tray against a hotel wall.

Capello reacted furiously when he spotted one player texting on his mobile phone during a meal while the team were in the Ukraine.

The Italian was so angry at the breach of one of his strictest rules, he picked up a metal serving platter and launched it at a wall.

He then turned on his squad and made it clear he would not tolerate any further breaches of discipline.

Capello's strict regime includes a rule that BANS phones from all dining rooms. The players must also leave the dining room as a squad, rather than individuals.

An agent of one of the players said: "The players eat at two tables with the coaches on another. During dinner, Capello saw one of the players secretly texting with his phone beneath the table.

"Before anybody really knew what was happening, Capello stood up and threw one of the trays across the room and it hit the opposite wall.

"He then shouted at the players that all he demanded was one hour of their time during meals without any distractions, especially people using mobile phones.

"It was a real shock for the players to see Capello like this. They'd seen him angry before but he'd never reacted quite as violently.

"They spent the rest of the meal in absolute silence and everybody was scared to catch his eye. If he wanted to remind them who was in charge, it worked."

Capello's determination to impose discipline on the England squad has won him many admirers at the highest level within the FA. It has also earned him the absolute respect of the players who are determined not to upset or anger him with a World Cup on the horizon.

As well as the ban on mobile phones in the dining areas and the rule about leaving the room as a squad, Capello is a stickler for punctuality and will not tolerate players being late for team meetings or coach journeys to training.

He also insists the players wear official FA suits and ties to and from games with the top buttons on their shirts done up.

He does not allow ghetto blasters in the dressing room although players can listen to music on their iPods.

And Capello has banned the squad from wearing FLIP-FLOPS on international duty.

Your comments

This article has 46 comments

To match break spain & best Nigeria of FIFA National.

By OLISA.. Posted November 13 2009 at 6:40 AM.

To get at Spain they'll have to get past the U.S.!

By William.. Posted October 23 2009 at 8:41 PM.

Duncan Robson, you are missing the point entirely, Old Bean. "Dog Save The Queen" is the BRITISH National Anthem, when ENGLAND play, they are entitled to hear their own National Anthem - I don't hear "Dog Save The Queen" being played when the Scots, Welsh & Northern Irish play - they reserve the right to have their own anthems played!

By duncan robson. Posted October 19 2009 at 7:41 AM.

By Gerry.. Posted October 20 2009 at 10:21 PM.

Just a point of order for Mr Bob Caine, the queen is sovereign over ALL the United Kingdom, and "God Save the Queen" is the National Anthem for all her loyal subjects-socialist nonsense aside.

By duncan robson.. Posted October 19 2009 at 7:41 AM.

England wont win the World Cup the team likely to stop that is Spain.

By @.. Posted October 19 2009 at 4:51 AM.

i am an Englands fun and and i like the talent of the team.
All it takes is a good coach and discipline to win.
Trophys are there to collect
just remeber Greece in Euro 2004

By nicolas.. Posted October 19 2009 at 4:14 AM.

Fabio Capello's "im the boss" style is spot on he's in charge and wants the team to play and behave like he see's it, nothing wrong with that, flatten some egos and make the players work. Sadly Fabio doesn't have the greatest squad to work with, the goal keeper problem and poor defence make match's against teams like Spain and Brazil, games we are unlikely to win, but you never know England could at last have some luck which they havent had for decades, any how Fabio's done well and given us some hope.

By darren.. Posted October 19 2009 at 1:21 AM.

Capello is a very good manager, I am afraid to say that the English players can not concentrate for a long time.
Another thing to worry about, Cole, Lampard and Terry are 3 players playing for the national team, look what happened to them against Wigan. If a team like wigan can penetrate the defence of Chelsea, what will the Brazilians do the the English team.
Anyhow, I still hope that England can do it and proove me wrong.

By Steve.. Posted October 18 2009 at 10:36 PM.

i think mr capello is doing a very good job to put in place all this and that, the problems are not making a telephone call or a send a text or for that matter eat toghether, the problems are the players, mr capello can invent anything he wants but when he will go to south africa he will find out that the players in my opinion are not good to win the world cup!

to win a world cup you need lots of skill, the english players have very little skill and are full of themself!

ciao.

By nino.. Posted October 18 2009 at 11:16 PM.

KEVIN......you know what i mean about Harry Redknapp...he is a proven great manager with WHAT HE'S HAD TO WORK WITH!!!! do you know football?

By Bob Caines.. Posted October 18 2009 at 9:12 PM.

"England cannot compete with nations such as russia, france & germany & i dare not compare them to brazil, spain, argentina & nigeria!"

You absolute muppet. We beat Germany with a 30% squad, France are fading rapidly, Russia??? Without Arshavin they aren't special, Argentina...Have you not been following their alomost disasterous qualifying campaign, Nigeria - you must be having a laugh there. The only two teams you mentioned there that pose a major threat to England are the obvioius pair of Spain and Brazil. We will see what happens in Qatar shall we, I dexpect a very close game.

By Dave.. Posted October 18 2009 at 8:09 PM.

This is a reply to bob caines comment, he said harry redknapp is a proven great manager ??????, what has he won ??, 1 division 3 trophy,a league cup trophy,the intertoto cup, and 2 runner up places, 1 with portsmouth and one with spurs, please tell me how that is a great proven manager ?????

By Kevin.. Posted October 18 2009 at 7:34 PM.

In response to Bob Caine'd comments above...fierce patrotism and England Manager in-charge... Let us stop pretending and accept that we have class in foreign coaches compared to our own here. You mentioned Harry, well, he is okay but England should aim for best coaches as it's the case with Capello and void the patrotic nonsense which won't take us far!

By Macs Baker.. Posted October 18 2009 at 7:17 PM.

England can win the world cup!!! With a little more consistency at the back. and all are players fit than we have a huge chance of bringing it home!!!

By N.Nunn.. Posted October 18 2009 at 7:14 PM.

"Suggest a class of remedial readers is called for nationwide immediately."

....check your own grammar first before spouting off, Adam.

By Brian Collins.. Posted October 18 2009 at 6:56 PM.

We at times express ourselves on the football pitch as we do grammatically in this comment section...sloppily!

Suggest a class of remedial readers is called for nationwide immediately.

By Adam Smith.. Posted October 18 2009 at 6:17 PM.

I respect what capello is tryin to do here but the england team is a lost cause. Yes many of the players have inflated egos but when they play 4 england all i see is fear. Technically england are on par with belarus however a couple of the belarus players did catch my eye. England cannot compete with nations such as russia, france & germany & i dare not compare them to brazil, spain, argentina & nigeria!

By jimboJONES.. Posted October 18 2009 at 4:50 PM.

After all our Fierce Patriotism...we have an "ITALIAN" Manager at the helm eh?? Funny that. Whats wrong with our very own proven great manager Harry Redknapp, most Other Top Footballing Nations have their own in charge............

By Bob Caine.. Posted October 18 2009 at 5:25 PM.

to Noel Lawrence
maybe they'd be more inclined to sing the national anthem, if it actually WAS the national anthem.
Rooney plays for ENGLAND
God Save the Queen is the BRITISH anthem.
Talk about arrogance.

By richard micheals.. Posted October 18 2009 at 4:17 PM.

If England's senior players are fit for the finals, I think Capello's the man to take them to glory. But history shows that a fully fit English squad at the World Cup is a very rare occurrence. It's a shame that Shilton, Stiles, Lineker and Robson aren't still playing though.

By John.. Posted October 18 2009 at 4:14 PM.

After the debacle of the last world cup, with WAGs and players acting like teenagers in Ayia Napa for the first time away from their parents, it's refreshing to see a manager instead of a coach in charge of England. He has installed some discipline and pride into this squad, and at long last I'm proud of this team representing our country. Whether we win the World cup or not: at least he will ensure we acquit ourselves professionally and with dignity.
Bravo Mr.Cappello.

By Stephen P.. Posted October 18 2009 at 4:11 PM.

Bravo Capello ! and let's extend that to the couple of players, Rooney being one, who make no attempt to sing the National Anthem before games. If you can't show your country and the world your commitment to your country then you shouldn't be playing for it. Mime if you can't sing.

By Noel Lawrence.. Posted October 18 2009 at 3:33 PM.

"Name and shame the idiot" - that's a bit over the top isn't it? He was texting not shooting up.
Yes, make them wear suits when they are representing England but let's not be too silly. He's beginning to sound like Fergie.
Still, I'd be grateful though if he could "persuade" some of them to sing the anthem when they are out on the pitch. And before you all start, we don't seem to be the only ones,half the Irish were singing and either Ukraine or Belarus had lots not bothering.

By Jan.. Posted October 18 2009 at 2:51 PM.

Let's face it, England as a team has so much am-a-star mentality in its players. That undermines team strategy and cohesion. So Capello should continue to administer this sort of medicine to bring them back to reality. Overall England has a squad which can win the W.C if they can be fiercely committed to the job. If a team as tame as Italy could win the previous W.C, why can England?

By Tobias (The Netherlands).. Posted October 18 2009 at 1:32 PM.

capello's the man!!! it's coming home yeh baby!!!! :))

By superteebs.. Posted October 18 2009 at 1:13 PM.

England with dodgy goalkeepers, a right flank of Beckham and Johnstone, both of whom can't defend, will be torn apart down that wing by the first good team we play. A centre forward in Heskey who can't even get in Aston Villa's team. Com'on lets not delude ourselves.

By collina32.. Posted October 18 2009 at 12:58 PM.

I totally agree with you all that Capello is the right man for the job, however, it is the squad that worries me. What seperares us from the likes of Spain and Brazil is the fact that England are capable of going out of the World Cup in the last 16 to teams like Ukraine,Serbia,Slovakia,Chile,Mexico or South Korea.

For a successful World Cup campaign there are several issues which need to be sorted.

1) A first choice keeper, not a roation between Green,Foster and James

2) Complacency, 1 decent victory does not make you world beaters

3) Penalties, there is a good chance it may come down to penalties (again) and we need 5 takers who have the confidence to step and take one. Lamps, Gerrard, Barry, Becks and Roonaldo

4) Discipline, Which Capello has already sorted out as proven with the WAG policy and the article above

By Will D, Notts.. Posted October 18 2009 at 11:56 AM.

England have no technical ability, they
are deluding themselves if they think they
can win anything.

By SB.. Posted October 18 2009 at 11:45 AM.

I wonder who was the player???

By Ranjit.. Posted October 18 2009 at 11:23 AM.

Thank God for some discipline!!! So glad WAGS are banned too. The lads have got a job of work to do. There are plenty of people doing jobs that take them away from their families - I've got good vibes about this World Cup (mind you, I say that every year!) : )

By Lesley Marsden.. Posted October 18 2009 at 10:58 AM.

CAPELLO is right and he has the backing of the 90% of football followers.
These players are being paid thousands of pounds and they need to disciplined to do a good job.
Let us not forget the bad image England players left when a they damaged the aircraft equipment when travelling for international England duty.

By A.Messina.. Posted October 18 2009 at 10:57 AM.

England at last have a manager, that can win the world cup, they had the team to do it in 2006 but the wrong man in charge, this team is possibly not quite as good, but capello has made a huge difference to the team, as a Scot, that worries me:-) (joking) lots of English relatives. With a bit of luck in the draw england can win it.

By Norrie.. Posted October 18 2009 at 10:12 AM.

he seems to be doing everything possible to try and win the world cup. Hope he succeds. And if he does not i am sure its time ENGLISH FANS start rating their team where they really are.England shuld be ok up to the quaters when they start meeting the brazils, russias etc

By nash.. Posted October 18 2009 at 10:09 AM.

do you know what you are writing about?England is the greatest team of all........france and spain are mean teams........compared to england!you are trying to select the defete england suffered against those team.......but don't forget that......england was playing using only the "B" team........and don't forget that the "B" team was the winner against germany..........

By Ibrahim.. Posted October 18 2009 at 10:04 AM.

I think its great that a manager is standing strong with a good game plan and he always has a plan B if all else fails.I like that about him.Hmmmmbeat Spain I hear well i don't think its impossible or improbable as the answere as fabio knows to a team that like to play keep ball is to keep the ball better than they do.Its that simple,amd if fabio tells he's players to keep the ball i gather they are going to do as he asks by the sounds of it,I for one am glad he is taking no nonsense from these well paid players and i hope he instills some pride back into them as this is what is needed

By Paul.. Posted October 18 2009 at 8:43 AM.

.....So does this mean we are gonna win the World Cup now haha.......just remember when we faced a weakened France and a weakened Spain....THEY KEPT THE BALL AND BEAT Us.....Heart and Passion alone wont be enough for us to bring it home...Belarus didnt have quality strikers the other day (thank god) BUT IT WAS ANNOYING HOW FOR LARGE PARTS OF THE GAME Belarus KEPT THE BALL...at Wembley!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Bob Caine.. Posted October 18 2009 at 8:03 AM.

Great! I wish he was d coach of my country's national team. I mean d 'Super Vultures' of Nigeria

By Abdulganiu Babatunde.. Posted October 18 2009 at 7:53 AM.

Brilliant.....this is whats been lacking for so long, a sense of discipline.......Capello should be taken around schools in the country to instil the same in pupils.......I back his reaction all the way........

By Vik.. Posted October 18 2009 at 7:13 AM.

Dano such reasoning is why we have so many yobs in our community. Too much freedom! I wish NOTW could name and shame that idiot! Well done Capello.

Next leave that idiot behind. He probably was thinking it is was Sven Mr Everything goes still in charge.

By CHris.. Posted October 18 2009 at 6:44 AM.

Good call CAM, ever thought about running for the number 10 job.......?

By william dyke.. Posted October 18 2009 at 5:22 AM.

Good on him. Shame the players aren't up to it. The idea that we could beat Spain is quite funny.

By Joanne.. Posted October 18 2009 at 1:46 AM.

Love capello top manager stands for no ****

Those players need a tough hard face manager and he is one he should have bounced the tray of there heads like they do in the wrestling

By DANO.. Posted October 18 2009 at 1:35 AM.

Ridiculously OTT! Someone needs to lock Capello in a room, shove a big fat doobie in his mouth and not let him out until he's smoked it in its entirety.

By CAM.. Posted October 18 2009 at 1:07 AM.

Guess he's one who wants to bring back the cane LOL!!!

By Luke.. Posted October 18 2009 at 12:15 AM.

Shame many parents do not follow Fabio Capello's stance on discipline. We may see a start to a better society if disciplne began at home.

By Brian Foord.. Posted October 18 2009 at 12:19 AM.

why waste his time these losers wont win anything......

By kingkodo.. Posted October 18 2009 at 12:26 AM.

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