World Cup: England squad discouraged from diary-writing

The Football Association is attempting to dissuade members of England’s World Cup squad from writing columns or diaries during the tournament in Japan and Korea.

Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has already taken a lead in agreeing not to write a World Cup diary, unlike his predecessor Glenn Hoddle.

And with captain David Beckham also having ended his exclusive newspaper column this season, the FA hope this attitude will spread to many other members of the squad.

They saw the damaging effects of Hoddle’s World Cup diary, which was sanctioned by them only to rebound on him, but also the ‘warts-and-all’ columns written by the British Lions rugby team in Australia.

FA chief executive Adam Crozier, who will meet the players’ committee to discuss a World Cup bonus package deal of around £5m (€8.1m), nevertheless realises they cannot introduce an outright ban.

Experienced internationals such as Gareth Southgate and Gary Neville have existing newspaper deals and are the type of figures who could be trusted by the governing body to act with caution.

FA marketing director Paul Barber revealed: ‘‘This is something that Adam Crozier and I have spoken to the players about and it is a matter that will continue to be discussed with them.’’