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London - John Terry's future as England captain was called into question on Saturday when British newspapers responded to reports about his infidelity by demanding for him to be stripped of the captaincy.
The centre-back, who also captains Chelsea, was named on Friday as the sportsman behind a gagging injunction involving his private life.
A judge at London's High Court subsequently lifted the order and Saturday's papers were full of accounts alleging that Terry had an affair with the ex-girlfriend of former Chelsea team-mate Wayne Bridge, Vanessa Perroncel.
The Daily Telegraph's chief football writer Henry Winter, a prominent member of the England press pack, led the calls for Terry to hand in the captain's armband.
"I like Terry, the one natural leader in the England dressing room, a player so passionately committed to the cause of St George that he willingly endures jabs just to get his stiff back through games, but this really is an embarrassment too far. It's time for him to stand down," Winter wrote.
His words were echoed by The Independent's chief sports writer James Lawton, who said Terry's misdemeanours would not be taken lightly by England coach Fabio Capello.
"Capello is the most strenuous of disciplinarians, a fanatic for professional rigour in all matters," he said.
"Claims of carrying on an affair with a team-mate's girlfriend is surely not Capello's idea of the self-control and example and heightened sense of camaraderie implicit in the assignment."
The Sun, the United Kingdom's most popular daily, claimed that Bridge was so distraught by news of the affair that he was contemplating retiring from England duty.
"... Bridge told pals he did not even want to be picked for England's next friendly match (against Egypt) in March," read The Sun's article on the affair.
"The Sun understands that not only is Terry's betrayed best mate refusing to talk to the Three Lions skipper any more -- but he is considering quitting international football entirely."
Bridge played with Terry for six years during his time at Chelsea before leaving to join Manchester City in January 2009.
The left-back is widely expected to be called into Capello's World Cup squad as cover for Terry's Chelsea team-mate Ashley Cole.
Speaking at the time of Bridge's departure from Chelsea, Terry said: "He'll be missed. It's a shame to see one of the lads go who you have grown up with and been with for a long time."
Terry was named England captain by former England coach Steve McClaren in August 2006 and Capello confirmed he would continue in the role shortly after the Italian took charge in August 2008.
Current vice-captain Rio Ferdinand and his Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney have been touted as the favourites to replace Terry as skipper if Capello, a renowned disciplinarian, decides to strip him of the captaincy.
England begin their World Cup campaign against the United States in Rustenburg, South Africa on June 12.
