FA face players revolt

John Terry: Backing underfire England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson

14 April 2012

The Football Association face a backlash from England's players if they decide to sack Sven-Goran Eriksson following next week's crucial board meeting.

The Swede could be axed from his £4million a year job if it is found that he lied about his relationship with Faria Alam but today it emerged that England captain David Beckham and the rest of the players are firmly behind him.

It is understood that some senior players have already contacted Eriksson, giving him their support and saying the squad will watch the meeting with interest.

Relationships between the players and the FA have been strained by the organisation's handling of the Rio Ferdinand drugs test affair and the controversy over Alan Smith's ban following a missile-throwing incident.

Beckham has already gone on the record as saying that he hopes to continue to work with Eriksson while Chelsea's John Terry and Frank Lampard today followed suit.

Terry said: "The lads are all behind Sven and we'd like him to stay. He's a very good manager and he's got the full support of each and every player in the squad. We play for him every time we put the shirt on and he knows how to get the lads going. We all speak very highly of him and fingers crossed he'll stay."

Lampard added: "I'd be upset if Sven went and the players would be upset because he's a good manager and we respect him. As far as the players are concerned we're settled under him and want to play under him again.

"We've got good young players in the squad and believe we could have won the European Championship. We're determined to have a good World Cup qualifying campaign and go there and do something."

Eriksson has always shown his players loyalty and it is understood the players are now keen to reciprocate.

The FA face a minefield of problems over this affair, not least in agreeing what they will do if they decide Eriksson must go.

Any successor would be likely to face resentment from the players, although it is likely the FA would consult the players' committee on his replacement.

Eriksson took the unprecedented step last night of issuing a statement clarifying his position ahead of next Thursday's critical meeting of the FA's executive board.

Eriksson claimed to have been "so distressed by recent inaccurate comment and speculation about my professional integrity" that he had to speak out.

He said: "It is my policy never to comment on my private life.

"I wish to state unequivocally that in keeping with the above policy I have at no time either categorically confirmed or denied any

relationship with Faria Alam. Moreover neither I nor my advisors had any prior knowledge whatsoever of the statement authorised by the FA on behalf of Ms Alam on Monday July 19, nor of the press release issued by the FA on Saturday July 24, nor were either myself or my advisors consulted in any way about the contents of either statement.

"I welcome the opportunity to discuss these matters with the FA and I look forward to our qualification campaign for the World Cup." FA executive director David Davies has welcomed the inquiry.

He said: "I'm delighted the chairman Geoff Thompson has initiated the investigation.

"I am upset by some of the tone and content of things I have read.

"The quicker we get the matter resolved the better for everyone."

The move has placed the pressure firmly on the FA who must now decide whether they believe the word of their officials, who issued a denial on his behalf two weeks ago, or the word of their manager.

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Alan Smithers

Chelsea F.c.

David Beckham

David Jones (Footballer)

FA face players revolt

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