Eriksson arrives to provide answers

Sven-Goran Eriksson remained tight-lipped as he arrived for work at Football Association headquarters in Soho Square, where an extraordinary day in the office lay ahead.

The England head coach faces a meeting with FA chief executive Brian Barwick and then, with his agent Athol Still, will then address the governing body’s Compliance Unit to discuss allegations of corruption at the highest level of the club game.

Eriksson and Still allegedly revealed to a News of the World undercover reporter – posing as a fake sheikh – that at least one Barclays Premiership manager was guilty of taking illegal payments while other clubs were involved in transfer irregularities.

Asked by the reporter whether managers always get involved with transfers, Eriksson is quoted as replying: “Yeah, and of course they put money in their pocket”.

Still, who met with Barwick yesterday, promised both he and Eriksson will “cooperate fully” with any further discussion. But he denied making specific allegations.

The FA has requested all details of the alleged conversations from the News of the World published last week and Barwick admitted the revelations have “not been good for the game”.

But Eriksson also received the FA’s full backing just five months before he leads England to the World Cup.

“The FA fully appreciates the importance of supporting Sven and the England team in the build-up to and during the World Cup this summer,” read a statement from Barwick.

“We realise how important this is to every England supporter and are fully aware of our responsibility to provide Sven and the team with the best chance of achieving success in Germany. Rest assured, we are committed to doing this.

“I’d like to call on everyone connected with the game to get behind Sven and the team over the next five months as we countdown to what we all believe is one of our best opportunities in a World Cup finals for many years.”

Barwick arrived shortly after 8am and said very little, confirming only that he will be meeting Eriksson during the day.

Eriksson arrived at the FA’s front door an hour later in his chauffeur-driven car but made no comment as he walked past a throng of photographers, cameramen and journalists into the building.

The FA’s Compliance Unit comprises seven specialists working within the FA’s governance department and falls under the control of governance director Jonathan Hall, the former secretary and legal officer at the Rugby Football Union.

The Compliance Unit recently met with Mike Newell to discuss the Luton manager’s allegations of being offered bungs by player agents. QPR boss Ian Holloway has also given evidence after making similar accusations.