The Football Association have confirmed that John Terry has been stripped of the England captaincy until after his racism court trial.
The decision was explained to the Chelsea defender and England manager Fabio Capello by FA chairman David Bernstein in phone calls on Friday morning.
The FA said in a statement: "Following the decision to adjourn the court case against John Terry to July, the Football Association confirm he will not captain the England team until the allegations against him are resolved."
Capello will be free to pick Terry for England friendlies and Euro 2012.
Terry has been accused of racially abusing QPR's Anton Ferdinand, a charge which he denies, during a match at Loftus Road in October last year.
A spokesman for the player declined to comment on Friday.
It is the second time the Chelsea captain has been stripped of the England armband having also lost it two years ago after allegations surrounding his private life came to light.
Capello did not take part in the discussions on the captaincy but will choose Terry's successor.
The FA statement added: "The FA board expected the trial to be concluded prior to the European Championship. Further to Wednesday's confirmation that the trial will not take place until after the tournament, the board has discussed the matter in detail and has collectively decided it is in the interests of all parties that John has the responsibilities of captaincy removed at this time.
"This decision has been taken due to the higher profile nature of the England captaincy, on and off the pitch, and the additional demands and requirements expected of the captain leading into and during a tournament.
"The FA board can confirm that he has not been excluded from the squad and that Fabio Capello is free to select him for the Holland fixture on 29 February and the European Championship.
"FA chairman David Bernstein has spoken to both John Terry and Fabio Capello to explain the facts to them. Fabio Capello has not been involved in the FA board discussions which reached this conclusion, but understands that the FA board has authority to make this decision.
"Fabio Capello will take the decision as to who will be made captain moving forward.
"This decision in no way infers any suggestion of guilt in relation to the charge made against John Terry.
"The FA will be not be making any further comment on this matter."
Sports minister Hugh Robertson backed the FA's decision saying it would have been "impossible" for Terry to continue.
Robertson said: "I completely support the FA's decision. It would have been impossible for John Terry to have continued as captain with this charge over his head."
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas said Terry would remain captain of the club and he did not agree with the FA's decision.
He said: "It's really an FA decision. I have nothing to say about it.
"I don't agree with it. The statement from the FA was pretty clear on what was their decision-making.
"John will continue to be our captain. It (the trial) doesn't compromise on my decision-making.
"It obviously compromises on the FA's decision-making."
Villas-Boas confirmed that Terry would miss Sunday's clash with Manchester United with a knee problem and "probably" the Everton match next Saturday.
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew felt the timing of the trial made it impossible for Terry to remain as captain.
"I think the court case should have come sooner and get it out of the way," he said.
"Putting it behind the European Championships or later in the calendar has not helped anybody. I think it needed to be done and dealt with, so I was surprised with that decision.
"But I suppose with what's hanging over him, he can't really be the England captain, as well as he has carried that title in many great games for England."
Stoke manager Tony Pulis believes the FA made the wrong decision regarding Terry and the captaincy.
"We wouldn't treat anyone differently in this football club until they were proven guilty," he said.
"Certain people are saying things, but let's wait until people make the decision and then draw a conclusion from there.
"That is what this country has been famous for and admired for - you have to be proven guilty first."
Former England captain Rio Ferdinand ruled himself out of contention to take over from Terry.
The Manchester United defender stepped in when Terry lost the captaincy two years ago, before the job was returned to his centre-back colleague.
Rio Ferdinand was angered at his treatment by Capello when the captaincy was restored to Terry a year ago without the former Leeds and West Ham player being informed.
He has told the BBC programme Football Focus, in an interview to be shown tomorrow, that the captaincy is not for him this time.
"No," he said, according to the BBC Sport website. "I've been England captain before for a brief period. It was taken away from me so I just want to concentrate on playing for Manchester United, to be honest with you. I'm happy to be playing good football for Manchester United."
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