Sven's job on the line

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is facing the sack today after the Football Association announced an inquiry into the sex scandal.

It will centre on whether he lied about his affair with FA secretary Faria Alam, 38. After a newspaper first revealed the liaison, the FA issued a denial but was then forced into a humiliating U-turn.

If Eriksson, 56, is sacked for deceiving his bosses his £14 million contract
could be ended without a penny in compensation.

FA chairman Geoff Thompson will lead the inquiry. It will report within days to an emergency meeting of its board — which has powers to sack him if he is found guilty of misconduct.

Several board members are already known to be angry that Eriksson may have misled officials about the affair with Ms Alam, who also had a relationship-with chief executive Mark Palios, 52. The FA threatened legal action in an attempt to stop reports of the affair before it became clear that it was true, leaving it facing public embarrassment.

Eriksson has refused to comment throughout the unfolding scandal, which cost him his relationship with Nancy Dell’Olio.