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John Terry will no longer wear the armband as England's captain.
It was the only proper decision manager Fabio Capello could make.
In truth, Terry should have made the decision on his own. That's what a man of character and fortitude would do. That's what a man who places team first would do. That's what a true captain would do. That's the beginning of the rehabilitation of a man who showed poor judgment, restraint and a lack of moral fibre.
In the end, it was Capello who made the decision. He was consistent with what he preaches -- including team unity, respect and most importantly discipline -- and he had no choice but to remove the captain's armband from Terry.
Terry is alleged to have had an extra-marital affair with Vanessa Perroncel, the former girlfriend of England and former Chelsea teammate Wayne Bridge.
Terry is married to childhood sweetheart Toni and is the father of twins.
Capello has had players in the past who loved more than just life. He has always handled with them with kid gloves.
But handling this kind of situation in a pressure-cooker just before a World Cup for a national team that is starving for success is a much different matter.
What he needed to worry about was the distraction both off the field and in the dressing room.
No doubt Capello has a good feel about what is said and felt in the locker room. Players can make all kinds of supportive public statements but what is really said and what happens in a dressing room is usually reserved for players and coaches.
"After much thought, I have made the decision that it will be best for me to take the captaincy away from John Terry," Capello said in a statement.
"As a captain with the team, John Terry has displayed extremely positive behaviour. However, I have to take into account other considerations and what is best for all of the England squad.
"What is best for all of the England team has inspired my choice."
There is a hard core of fans, players and commentators who will bemoan the removal of the armband. Their mantra is predictable.
"It's a private matter. We should respect that," or some such drivel.
Public figures, be they athletes, movie stars or politicians, are not the same as everyone else. Because of their position, they attain special status and special privileges. They are treated differently because of what they do. They have access to benefits most other people don't have.
The price they pay for all that good stuff is a very public one. Screw around if you want but be prepared to pay the price that's weighed to your fame. You may think celebrity status gives you a pass but it doesn't.
Being the captain of a team that represents a legendary footballing nation puts Terry in that situation. It makes him accountable for what he does 24 hours of the day, seven days of the week. If he doesn't like that situation, he can either get out of the business or he could have turned in the armband on his own.
A captain leads by example. He is a leader by what he does on and off the field. The two are inseparable because it is impossible for one to not affect the other.
It is ridiculous to contend that somehow the removal of the captaincy will ultimately affect how England plays in South Africa. A piece of cloth on an arm will have nothing to do with that. But that piece of cloth should represent the highest level of trust and that trust has been broken.
Terry has to pay a very public price for what became a very public and ugly situation.
Morris Dalla Costa is a Free Press sports columnist.