FIFA exemption to test FA

The FA face a test of their commitment to protecting England’s players from burn-out after being given an exemption from a FIFA ban on domestic matches in the four weeks before the 2006 World Cup.

FIFA yesterday ruled the FA Cup final can be played as the opening game of the new Wembley Stadium on May 20 that year, less than three weeks before the start of the tournament in Germany.

The FA insist no firm date has yet been fixed for the final but the fact they requested the exemption from FIFA indicates May 20 is a strong possibility - something that would infuriate Sven-Goran Eriksson.

The England head coach failed in an attempt to secure a winter break and only three months ago personally pleaded with FIFA president Sepp Blatter for a minimum four-week break before the start of the 2006 World Cup.

If the FA Cup final goes ahead on May 20, that could involve many of Eriksson’s senior players and would also mean the Premier League could play up until May 14 instead of May 7.