In a startling revelation, Chelsea skipper John Terry has been accused of taking secret cash payments to lay on tours of the club's training ground.
Terry was set up by undercover reporters of the News of the World, who secretly filmed him taking £10,000 in cash.
The allegation against the 29-year-old defender was made in the News of the World following a sting operation in which three reporters handed over 200 £50 notes to Terry and his alleged collaborator, Tony Bruce, a well-known ticket tout.
According to the paper, the money was in a black folder and handed to Bruce, but it was made clear that Terry would be taking £8,000 and Bruce's 'cut' was £2,000. Terry also insisted that he would be giving his £8,000 to Make A Wish, the charity that fixes treats for terminally ill children, it said.
Bruce told the three men that further special access trips to the training ground could be arranged. Terry, however, was reported as saying: "Yeah, we can sort that out," but insisted that the arrangements must be kept secret from anyone else at the club. "If the club finds out, it's a little bit... you know," Terry was reported to have said.
Bruce allegedly added: "If anything ever goes wrong, then you say, 'John didn't know anything about that'. John just can turn round and say, 'Tony Bruce, he shouldn't be doing that'. He can deny it."
Terry arranged the backstage visit for the scribes without permission from his club's boss Carlo Ancelotti.
However, Chelsea have defended their captain.
"Contrary to media reports and the appearance of edited video on Sunday morning the club is confident that at no time did Terry ask for or accept money in relation to visits to the training ground," said a Chelsea spokesman.
'Chelsea FC host a large number of visitors at the training ground throughout the year, the majority of which are made up of club sponsors, our charity partners and supporters.
'The players play a big part in these visits and John Terry naturally has a leading role, hosting a significant number of children and their families this season through our partner charities 'Help A London Child' and 'Right To Play.'
'John has also organised a number of visits for families with sick children as a result of personal correspondence.'
Ancelloti put his weight behind the skipper and said, "This is not correct. This is not true. I think the club, me, the players, have a lot of confidence in John Terry. John Terry did nothing wrong."
Meanwhile Football Association (FA) chief executive Ian Watmore declared that the governing body will not interfere in the controversy surrounding Terry.
Whatmore said that the decision it up to Fabio Capello to take a call on this. "I see our role as appointing a manager and his team and having appointed Fabio (Capello) & Co. it is their call on all matters on the playing side including the captaincy," Watmore said.
"The club have to take up whatever issues they think are relevant, but from our point of view he (Terry) is eligible to play for England, the manager wants him to captain England," he added.
