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.