Sven ‘has no case to answer’

SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON was last night “very relieved and pleased” at being given the go-ahead to continue as England coach after being cleared of any wrongdoing by the Football Association board.

However, he should be in little doubt that any problems in qualifying for the 2006 World Cup - most notably in next month’s games away to Austria and Poland - could still lead to his ultimate downfall.

Eriksson was cleared of lying to his employers when initially asked about allegations of a relationship with Faria Alam, who paid the price of her own firm rebuttal to the same question by resigning.