FIFA to discuss Eriksson squad bid

World Cup organisers have agreed to consider Sven-Goran Eriksson’s campaign to move the deadline for coaches to submit their final squads for the tournament.

The England head coach has persuaded several other national team managers to support his bid to have the deadline moved back from May 15 and the issue will be revisited in 10 days’ time.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter told a news conference in Lucerne, Switzerland: “This deadline has been fixed but it’s a question for the organising committee of the FIFA World Cup and this will be on the agenda for their meeting of March 15 and we will discuss it then.”

The issue is also set to be raised at a meeting of World Cup coaches in Dusseldorf on Monday and Tuesday, which Eriksson is attending.

Football Association executive director David Davies will also be in Dusseldorf and will hold meetings with other countries’ officials to gather support to give coaches at least an extra week before being made to submit their final squads.

Davies said: “This matter is bound to be aired either in Monday’s conference or in the workshops on Tuesday and we have some confidence there is considerable support among the nations taking part in the World Cup for Sven’s proposal.”

Holland coach Marco van Basten and Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann have already indicated their backing for Eriksson.