John Terry hits back at Craig Bellamy’s attack
'People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones,' Terry said after Bellamy's attack
James Ducker, Northern Football Correspondent
John Terry has hit back at Craig Bellamy after the Manchester City striker launched a scathing personal attack on the disgraced Chelsea captain in the wake of the Wayne Bridge affair.
Bridge refused to shake hands with Terry before City’s win at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, but that incident was overshadowed by a bitter row between Bellamy and the former England captain.
The City forward suggested that Terry’s affair with Vanessa Perroncel, Bridge’s former partner, should have come as “no surprise†because “everyone in football knows what John Terry’s like off the fieldâ€.
Outraged by the outspoken Wales striker’s remarks, Terry responded witheringly by insinuating that Bellamy’s comments were rich coming from a player who is no stranger to controversy himself. “People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones,†Terry said, when asked for his opinion on Bellamy’s remarks on Saturday.
In 2006, Bellamy was cleared of assaulting two women in a Cardiff nightclub and the next year was fined for attacking John Arne Riise, a former Liverpool team-mate, with a golf club during a training camp in Portugal.
Bellamy could be seen sneering: “Nah, I’m not having you†at Terry as the players exchanged handshakes before kick-off, with Bridge’s very public snub of his former friend setting the scene for a remarkable afternoon in West London.
Terry has been told by Fabio Capello that he will not captain England again as long as the Italian remains in charge of the national team, but the defender has more pressing concerns.
Chelsea’s first defeat at Stamford Bridge this season was also their third defeat in six matches since Terry was stripped of the England captaincy and their misery on Saturday was compounded by the red cards shown to Julian Belletti and Michael Ballack, both of whom will miss the FA Cup quarter-final at home to Stoke City on Sunday.
Gareth Barry, the City and England midfield player, said that the team had been galvanised by the events surrounding Bridge, who had pulled out of England’s squad for the friendly against Egypt at Wembley on Wednesday after claiming that his position had become “untenable and potentially divisive†in the wake of Terry’s actions.
Barry claimed that Bridge had emerged “with a lot of credit†after the left back’s professional performance against Chelsea, but while he was more diplomatic than Bellamy, it was clear that Terry’s behaviour has been dimly received among his fellow professionals.
“A lot of people felt sorry for Wayne with what has gone on,†Barry said. “As a club we’ve all supported him and got behind him and it was a great team performance. Whether it was down to that [the Terry affair] I don’t know, but it was good for Wayne and it was good for the other players and for the fans. Hopefully now we can finish the season as strongly.
“Of course, I’m sad to see [he’s pulled out of the England squad]. He’s a great player and would improve the squad and team when he plays, but like many other people have said I respect his decision. You can’t imagine yourself in that position and what you’d do unless it happens to you.
“Being the person Wayne is, he didn’t want to rub anything in. He used to play for Chelsea, he kept his emotions to himself and his performance was brilliant. He’s not rubbed it in anyone’s faces.â€
Barry does not believe that Terry’s behaviour will create an uneasy situation in the England dressing room. “It’s personal issues and as professionals you haveto put it aside, once we’re together it will all be forgotten and we’ll try to win a game of football because that’s what it’s all about,†he said.