FA consider newspaper allegations about Eriksson

The Football Association are considering their response to a series of revelations about England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson by a Sunday newspaper.

Eriksson reportedly told an undercover News of the World reporter – posing as a rich Arab – that he would quit as England coach if they win the World Cup this summer, and suggested he would beprepared to become manager of Aston Villa as part of a takeover bid.

Athole Still, Eriksson’s agent, confirmed the England coach spoke about the possibly of managing Aston Villa, but described the News of the World article as “disgraceful entrapment” and said much of it was “sheer fantasy”.

He insists Eriksson, whom he described as being “really angry”, did not talk about breaking his England contract.

An FA spokesman said: “We want to reflect on the article in full before we make any formal comment.”

Eriksson was contacted by the undercover News of the World reporter to see if he would be interested in coaching at a new football academy based in Dubai at some point in the future.

It is believed the Swede travelled to Dubai with the FA’s approval.

The newspaper claims Eriksson, Still and lawyer Richard Des Voeux met the reporter, posing as an Arab, at an exclusive hotel in Dubai.

During the talks, Eriksson is alleged to have raised the idea of buying a club to the reporter.

He reportedly said “Aston Villa is for sale” before allegedly referring to the club’s chairman Doug Ellis.

“The chairman is an old man today. He’s sick.”

He added: “Aston Villa will sell more shirts in one week than they did for the last 10 years.”

Eriksson is also said to have suggested he could persuade England captain David Beckham to return to the Premiership from Real Madrid.

“I’ll phone Beckham.

“Beckham and I, we have a relationship like that (he crossed his fingers). We are friends, but a lot of respect.

“He will come back tomorrow. And it’s up to me to convince him that this is the right place to be.”

The coach also made reference to England striker Michael Owen, who joined Newcastle in a £17million transfer from Madrid in August after a deal could not be struck with his former club Liverpool.

“I asked him if he was happy. He said ‘not really with the club’.”

Eriksson is under contract to England until 2008 but apparently suggested he could leave before then.

When the undercover reporter stated that he could not do ‘two jobs’, Eriksson responded: “No but everything is possible. But only at the end of the season.”

When asked if he was genuinely interested or joking, he replied: “No I’m not joking.”

He added: “After five-and-a-half years – it’s a long time to be England manager.

“Anyway if I win the World Cup, I will leave, goodbye.”

Eriksson also allegedly revealed details of his salary.

“I have two more years with the FA and there I have £3m net per year, plus bonuses.

“Now if I will leave the FA, I should like to have a contract of three years.

“I think (Chelsea manager Jose) Mourinho today…. Is on five million net. I think he might be the highest paid today.

“That’s the area you have to think about.”

Eriksson’s lawyer is said to have claimed there were “ways and means once Sven is happy of getting him out…”

The coach added: “If I just walk out and the next day I work for Aston Villa then they will ask for money.”

But according to Still, Eriksson has spoken to him about extending his England deal to 2010.

“Following the discussions the people we spoke to said they had a substantial sum of money to invest in a Premiership club,” Still told the BBC.

“I mentioned Aston Villa and Sunderland. The rest of the conversation was sheer fantasy.

“At no point did Sven say he would not honour his contract with England – he has even talked with me about extending it to 2010.

“He did talk about possibly managing Aston Villa because you never know what will happen in football, but it was all hypothetical.

“There were never any negotiations, it was all just fantasising.

“Sven is really angry that they have done this in a World Cup year. I will have to read the article fully before considering whether we will take any further action.”

Eriksson’s reign as England coach has been blighted by controversy since he took charge in January 2001.

His preparations for the 2002 World Cup were disrupted by revelations of his affair with TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson.

During the qualifying campaign for Euro 2004, Eriksson admitted meeting new Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich but claimed the occasion was purely a social one.

The build-up to the decisive match in England’s qualifying group, against Turkey in Istanbul, was overshadowed by a row between the players and the FA over a drug test involving Rio Ferdinand.

Eriksson refused to comment on speculation that he was prepared to quit over the affair.

In March 2004, Eriksson was pictured in a national newspaper attending a meeting with Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon, fuelling speculation he was next in line for the manager’s job at Stamford Bridge.

But the next day he agreed a two-year extension with the Football Association, taking him up until 2008.

Within four months, the News of the World reported that Eriksson had a relationship with Faria Alam, a secretary at the FA.

An FA spokesman insisted that Eriksson denied the accusation and the News of the World were contacted by lawyers acting for the FA and Ms Alam.

The same newspaper then published e-mails from Ms Alam and further details of her affair with Eriksson, and the FA were forced to retract their earlier denial.

The FA board met to discuss events and why the FA put out contradicting statements about the affair, but ruled Eriksson had “no case to answer”.