CHEATING husband 1, Chelsea 0.

You may not see John Terry on the pitch when Chelsea play Cardiff City in a crucial fifth round FA Cup clash on 13 Feb.

Mr Tackle (we're not just referring to his football skills here) has been given compassionate leave to fly to Dubai.

The reason: To make an attempt to patch things up with his wife on Valentine's Day (14 Feb), reported the Sun.

Chelsea have refused to comment, said SkyNews.

The 29-year-old England captain's wife, Ms Toni Poole, had fled to their luxury apartment in the desert kingdom with their two children after news broke last Friday that he had an affair with another woman ? the girlfriend of his best friend and fellow England teammate, Wayne Bridge.

The warring couple had an emotion-charged phone conversation yesterday to set up their summit in Dubai, where Ms Poole, 28, is staying with their three-year-old twins, reported the Sun.

A source close to Chelsea told the Sun: "John still thinks he can win Toni back and rescue his marriage.

"This is the last throw of the dice. He's determined not to come back from Dubai without a reconciliation. He knows he's hurt her badly.

"He's just hoping his words will be enough - but he'll have to grovel like never before.

"John is a football man through and through. But this is about more than football. He's got no option but to miss the Cup tie."

The source added: "John just hopes that holding the marriage summit over the Valentine's weekend will help sway Toni into seeing they still have a life together."

News reports have claimed that Terry got Bridge's girlfriend, Ms Vanessa Perroncel, pregnant and then arranged for her abortion.

The reports also say Ms Poole left England on Saturday night, the day after a High Court judge lifted an injunction Terry took out in a bid to gag the media.

She is staying in an ocean view apartment she and Terry own at the exclusive Palms resort.

A friend told the Sun: "It's the perfect place for her to escape and clear her head."

But Dubai also holds special memories for her.

It was where Terry proposed to her and where they had their honeymoon.

Any settlement could cost Terry 10 million Euros ($22.5million) but there have been conflicting reports on whether there will be a divorce.

According to the Daily Star, Ms Poole is standing by her man.

She apparently told her friends: "I am not divorcing John. We have known each other since we were kids, and nothing will shake our marriage. I am standing by him 100 per cent."

According to the newspaper, she went to Dubai with the couple's kids to shield them as the scandal broke.

Ms Poole told friends: "I am in Dubai with the children now to protect them from the media.

"But I am talking and texting John all the time and sending him pictures of the twins. John and I love each other very much. Every marriage goes through turmoil and this is no different. We will be together forever no matter what life throws at us.

"All talk of a divorce is total nonsense. John is my husband and will remain so."

Earlier reports have said that she is demanding a divorce.

The newspaper also reported that Miss Poole is considering hiring Ms Fiona Shackleton, the divorce lawyer who has previously represented Sir Paul McCartney and Madonna in their divorce battles.

Meanwhile, England Wags (wives and girlfriends) have rallied round Ms Poole, reported the Mirror.

She had messages of support from Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard's former partner Elen Rives and Tottenham Hotspur striker Peter Crouch's girlfriend Abigail Clancy.

A friend said: "She is very close to Elen and they were in Dubai a year ago with Vanessa Perroncel. Toni still finds it hard to believe she could do that to her."

The Mirror also said Ms Perroncel was snubbed by the wives and girlfriends as she lined up a deal with publicist Max Clifford to sell her side of the story.

This article was first published in The New Paper.