Sol Campbell has claimed that he could have been the captain of the England national team "for more than 10 years" if he had not been black.

The 39-year-old former defender wore the skipper's armband three times in 73 appearances for the Three Lions between 1996 and 2007.

"I believe if I was white, I would have been England captain for more than 10 years - it's as simple as that," he wrote in an authorised biography serialised by The Times.

"I think the FA wished I was white. I had the credibility, performance-wise to be captain. I was consistently in the heart of the defence and I was a club captain early in my career.

"I don't think it will change because they don't want it to and probably the majority of fans don't want it either. It's alright to have black captains and mixed race in the Under-18s and Under-21s but not for the full national side - there is a ceiling and although no-one has ever said it, I believe it's made of glass."

Campbell played for Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Newcastle United during his career.