Jamie "The Pacman" Pacheco / 05 February 2010 Free Bet View Market

John Terry has been stripped of the England captaincy after a 12 minute meeting with Fabio Capello at Wembley this afternoon in which he was told that the recent allegations about his private life had made his position untenable.

The news may have come as a shock to fans and pundits up and down the country but there were also a few Betfair punters who got their fingers burned by taking plenty of odds-on prices about the Chelsea captain to be leading the side out against the USA in England's opening match of the World Cup. The lowest Terry was matched at was [1.5] but there was almost £500 traded at [2.0] or lower.

The next few hours will provide an anxious wait for those who laid the new [1.28] market leader Rio Ferdinand. The Man Utd centre-half has been matched at a high of [9.8] to succeed Terry for £100 and some other pretty tasty prices. The fact he's trading at such a short price has a lot to do with Capello's statement saying that at the time Terry was appointed captain, Ferdinand was appointed vice-captain and there was no reason to now change the hierarchy in light of the Terry affair, which would mean the former Leeds man naturally take a step up. But those considering backing Ferdinand at long odds-on should remember that he's had an injury-plagued season and isn't even guaranteed to start that match against the USA, let alone lead out the side. Those considering taking some bigger prices may like to know Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard is an [8.6] chance, the in-form Wayne Rooney is [14.0] and David Beckham is chalked up at [50.0] to have a second stint as England captain.