John Terry will not regain the England captain's armband under Fabio Capello, the Italian was quoted as saying by British media yesterday.
Terry was stripped of the captaincy last month following newspaper revelations that he had had an extra-marital affair with the former partner of Wayne Bridge.
"From here to the World Cup he will not be the captain, and not while I'm England manager," Capello told reporters in a briefing ahead of Wednesday's friendly with Egypt.
However, Capello made it clear he still wanted the Chelsea skipper to lead by example on the pitch. "John Terry is a leader and will be without the armband," Capello said. "I don't think the players have lost respect for him."
Ivory Coast sack Halilhodzic 'by fax'
Ousted Ivory Coast coach Vahid Halilhodzic has slammed his sacking as being politically motivated and nothing to do with his performance in charge.
Halilhodzic failed to travel to Sun City in South Africa last week for the pre-World Cup workshop for coaches and federation president Jacques Anouma confirmed the sacking during a television debate on Saturday to discuss performances.
"It's terrible, I'm disgusted. I lose one game in 24 matches and now I have been sacrificed. It's purely political," he told L'Equipe yesterday.
Halilhodzic added he had only been informed of his dismissal by fax on Saturday.
Chile call off friendly matches
Chile called off this week's double bill of friendlies against Costa Rica and North Korea after the massive earthquake which hit the country in the early hours of Saturday.
"Football cannot remain indifferent to the catastrophe which has hit our country and certainly not to the pain and tragedy of thousands of Chileans," football federation president Harold Mayne-Nicholls said.
The players said in a statement: "At this moment, it is more important to look after the country's urgent necessities. There will be time for football."
In a highly unusual move, Chile, who have qualified for their first World Cup since 1998, were due to host Costa Rica and North Korea on the same evening. Both of Wednesday's matches were listed as full internationals by FIFA.
'Motivated' Nakamura eyes World Cup
Japan playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura said that the World Cup was the biggest factor behind his return to Yokohama F-Marinos.
The 31-year-old rejoined his boyhood club after a disappointing spell at Spanish side Espanyol.
"On the plane coming over I was thinking that the disappointment of Spain will give me extra motivation," Nakamura told reporters on being unveiled as a Yokohama player.
"The World Cup was the main reason. I need to be playing regularly. Not playing before a World Cup was a risk. But I have no regrets about going to Spain."
Ade: 'I didn't want to leave Arsenal'
Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor knows his return to the Emirates will be "hell" but claims he never wanted to leave Arsenal.
Adebayor, who scored a brace in City's 4-2 win over Arsenal in the first round match, was found guilty of violent conduct after an incident involving former team-mate Robin van Persie. The 26-year-old will be in for a torrid reception on his return to the Emirates on April 24.
"It will be 90 minutes of hell," he said. "The fans will boo me, insult me, because, until now, they haven't understood why I left.
"Arsene Wenger can never say that I wanted to leave. It was because Arsene didn't want me anymore."
Hleb admits Gross problems
Alexander Hleb insists he will not even consider staying with Stuttgart when his loan spell from Barcelona ends in the summer.
The Belarus international was substituted by Christian Gross in Saturday's 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt, leaving the field before the end of the match for the ninth time under the Swiss coach.
"Obviously my contract states that I may only play for 60 minutes," Hleb joked. "But the team clearly plays far better without me so the coach has done everything right."
Hleb confirmed that his relationship with Gross is the reason why he will turn his back on the Swabians at the end of the season.
Ramsey has surgery for double leg break
Arsenal's Wales international Aaron Ramsey has had surgery for a double leg break following his horrific injury in Saturday's Premier League match against Stoke City.
"The operation successfully reduced the fractures and whilst it is too soon to state an exact timescale for recovery, Aaron will certainly miss the remainder of this season," the club statement said.
Ramsey's injury came after a challenge by Stoke's Ryan Shawcross, who later issued a statement on the club's website saying: "There was absolutely no malice in the challenge. I would never, ever go out to hurt a fellow professional.
"I am deeply upset that Aaron has suffered such a bad injury and my thoughts are with him.
"I would like to send him my best wishes too for a speedy recovery."