John Terry and Wayne Bridge shunned PFA mediation offer

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11 April 2012

Players' chief Gordon Taylor has revealed how efforts to make peace between John Terry and Wayne Bridge failed when neither man volunteered to take part in mediation.

Taylor was today "surprised and saddened" following Bridge's decision to rule himself out of England contention and give up his World Cup chance.

Taylor had initially been in the dark about Bridge's plan to make himself unavailable for Fabio Capello's England side, which was revealed via a statement from lawyers representing the Manchester City left-back.

However he later stressed the Professional Footballers' Association had done all they could to heal the rift between the former Chelsea team-mates, which has developed following allegations that England captain Terry had an affair with Bridge's former girlfriend and mother of his child.

PFA chief executive Taylor said: "The PFA offered to help and contacted both parties with a view to acting as mediators, but neither came back to us. I am surprised and saddened that this matter could not be resolved."

Bridge said in his statement that his position in the England set-up was "untenable and potentially divisive".

He and Terry are set to go head to head on Saturday, when Chelsea face Manchester City at Stamford Bridge in the Barclays Premier League.

Taylor reflected that Bridge's decision to put his international career on hold was a decision which deserved to be respected.

Taylor told the PFA's website: "You have to respect Wayne's decision, and his wishes, but it is sad that it has come to this.

"I would have hoped that things could have been patched up for the sake of the professional careers of both Wayne and John Terry, as well as the England team."

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