The big news in the world of English soccer on February 1^st should be the last minute scramble to sign players and close deals that usually occurs on the transfer market before the January window closes. Not this year. The story that is occupying both the front and back pages of the tabloids and on the minds of soccer pundits everywhere is the scandal surrounding Chelsea captain John Terry and the speculation that it will cost him the captaincy of the England side.

Having had a court order preventing the media from discussing his private life overturned last week, Terry finds himself accused of having an affair with former best friend, teammate and current Manchester City and England player Wayne Bridge’s girlfriend (Terry is married with children and the woman involved in the scandal, Vanessa Perroncel, is the mother of Wayne Bridge's son)

High profile soccer players are certainly not strangers to scandal, but because he does hold the captaincy of an England side that is due to play in the FIFA World Cup in just four  months time, even government officials are wading in with their opinions of the Chelsea defender's “fitness” to keep the arm band. The sports minister, Gerry Sutcliffe, wants the FA to launch an inquiry. "If these allegations are proven, it calls into question his role as England captain," Sutcliffe said.

Terry’s club boss Carlos Ancellotti has already stated that from his point of view Terry’s position as Chelsea captain is safe, but England boss Fabio Cappello has not been so reassuring. He is in Switzerland recovering from knee surgery and will not be back in England until Thursday, when it is believed that he and assistant Franco Baldini will sit down with Terry to discuss the allegations.

Most players – including Wayne Bridges – have declined to make a real comment about the stories but on Sunday Manchester City players Carlos Tevez, Nigel de Jong and Stephen Ireland all wore t-shirts bearing the words “Team Bridge” in support of their seemingly wronged teammate.