Despite the ‘Kick it out’ campaign, racism has dominated the 2012 football agenda, with an Old Trafford showdown and the England manager its latest victims.
Capello may be our statistically most successful boss ever, but it is tournaments which count, and after the shambles of South Africa, he has left the team in dire straits ahead of this summer’s Euro’s.
He may blame the FA for their lack of consultation, but while some sympathy can be felt, John Terry is certainly not a justifiable cause to defend.
And with Capello out the country and speaking such little English, how were the FA meant to get in contact in the first place?
Since his tax-evasion clearance, Harry Redknapp has risen to saint-like proportions in the media, but doubts remain over his validity for the role.
Is wheeler-dealer, cockney geezer ‘Arry really appropriate, and is his club record really good enough?
Yet as Capello illustrates managerial statistics can lie and there seems no one better, let alone available, for the role.
And the role of manager’s must further be questioned after that farcical Liverpool v United showdown.
Yes, Suarez was stupid to not shake Evra’s hand, and his approach underlines the egotistical arrogance of the modern footballer.
But Evra has no right to take the moral high-ground. He reacted to Suarez’s gesture after withdrawing his own hand and his post-match celebration was disgraceful.
And speaking of hypocrisy, while Dalgleish’s reaction was bizarre, what right does Ferguson have to claim Suarez must be sold? Did he do the same when the ‘shit kicked the fan’ in 1995, or when Rio Ferdinand missed a drugs test?
It needed something special to prove football can still be a force for good, but Zambia’s thrilling African Nations Cup win, and Barcelona’s shock 2-3 reverse at Osasuna went some way to doing that.
And after more sterling displays, Paul Scholes and Thierry Henry show that for some player’s utter class is permanent on and off the pitch.
With dwarf-gate a distant memory, the RFU can view the FA debacle with a glimmer of satisfaction after the Lancaster revolution trundled rather than rumbled on in snowy Rome.
The team remains error-prone and over-reliant on Charlie Hodgson’s intercepting, but with young stars Farrell and Barritt among the highlights, things are looking up.
England’s cause should be helped further by the rearrangement of the France v Ireland showdown, but it is clear Wales are the team to beat after their second half dismantling of hapless Scotland.
The week’s undisputed sporting hero however is tennis’ Dan Evans, who produced two unexpected and sensational victories in Britain’s nail-biting triumph over Slovakia.
With Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins becoming a world-class doubles pair and Andy Murray to return, a strong team is in the making, and with Fed Cup success and strong juniors British Tennis could be entering a golden period. You heard it here first...
Some of 2012’s biggest prospects also started this career-defining year in fine fettle, with double gold for Jess Ennis at the UK Indoor Champs in Sheffield, a world-leading pool showing from Becky Adlington, and two stage wins for Mark Cavendish in Qatar.
What our cricketers would do for such success. But they did finally win this week against, well, England, as they prepare for a typically drawn out ODI Series.
The long overdue suspension of Alberto Contador is another symbolic move against the cycling drugs war, but suspicions do remain over other stars, including Lance Armstrong, who came 2nd on his Ironman triathlon debut in Panama.
Cycling, like British Tennis and Rugby is battling well to re-emerge from the doldrums, and after this week’s shameful shenanigans it could be football which slips far below.
What new twists lie in wait next week?
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