FA treads softly on Sven to save English blushes

THE FA stepped back from taking Sven-Goran Eriksson to task over his latest indiscretions because they did not want to disrupt the England team ahead of the World Cup.

Eriksson was taped making controversial remarks about several senior players to an undercover reporter and talking about lucrative job possibilities, even though he is under contract until 2008.

The FA reacted with a strong message of support for the England boss but the furore has disturbed leading members of the organisation.

Two senior sources connected to the FA have confirmed that if the revelations emerged immediately after the World Cup instead of before it, the FA may have reacted differently.

Instead Eriksson was merely asked to issue a statement and personally telephone the players involved: David Beckham, Michael Owen, Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney and Shaun Wright-Phillips.

One member of the FA’s International Committee said: “If you want the fame and fortune that goes with the job, you have to accept the responsibility that goes with it. It’s not the first time is it?

“The last thing we want is for there to be any unease within the England squad ahead of the World Cup and let’s hope, with the action that has been taken, that proves not to be the case.”

The other source said: “It is fair to say that if this had been after the World Cup there may have been a rather different reaction.

“We don’t want to ruin England’s preparations for a tournament we have a good chance of winning.”

There is a feeling too that Eriksson was unfairly tricked but there is still disquiet over the player remarks. There is also anger the News of the World’s entrapment has undermined England’s preparations.

Eriksson claims he has “no problem” with his star players and insists he has not embarrassed them but his assistant Tord Grip admitted the exposé had come as a shock to his fellow Swede.

Grip said: “He has been through a lot of things but this was something very special, because it was a real set-up. But I know that Sven is okay and he’s fully committed to the job.”

“It was a shock for him, this one. They had planned it for several months.

“He has spoken to them (the players) and he’s rather relaxed about the media. It’s no problem.”

Former England captain Terry Butcher however has claimed Eriksson’s remarks about the players amount to “a betrayal of trust”.

Butcher said: “It’s not so much the money side of things as the revealing of confidences of the senior players. It’s a betrayal of trust. I’m certain it will have affected the relationship between him and the team.”