Eriksson's own 'Svengate'
2004-07-28 16:14
London - England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is confident he will survive the controversy over his alleged cover-up of an affair with an FA secretary.
Embarrassed Football Association officials have called a meeting with the Swede for August 5 after being forced to retract a statement issued last week denying Eriksson's affair with Faria Alam after reports in a Sunday newspaper.
But on Tuesday they cleared chief executive Mark Palios of misleading them over his own fling with the same woman.
The Sun newspaper reported on Wednesday that FA lawyers were looking into the possibility of sacking Eriksson without paying him £14m in compensation if they could prove gross misconduct.
But his long-term assistant Tord Grip told the BBC: "Sven is not concerned about his job. Nobody at the FA has said anything to him about losing his job.
"He says they didn't ask him about what was happening in his private life. He said he did not lie because nobody talked to him about this."
FA chairperson Geoff Thompson has confirmed that the 12-man FA board will meet on August 5 to discuss the findings of the 'urgent inquiry' he launched on Monday and what action needs to be taken.
Give his side of the story
Eriksson's agent, Athole Still, told the BBC that his client - who is on holiday in Sweden - welcomed the chance of giving his side of the story.
"He is pleased as it gives him the chance to clear his name," he told the BBC.
"It gives him an opportunity to clear his name."
It is not the first time that Eriksson's activities have received tabloid exposure.
Two years ago he was revealed to have had an affair with TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson. He has also twice been photographed meeting with Chelsea owner and chief executive Roman Abramovich and Peter Kenyon leading to speculation he was being courted by the wealthy London club.
And The Sun says Newcastle manager and former England coach Bobby Robson and FA Director of Football Trevor Brooking will take charge of the team on a temporary basis until a permanent successor to Eriksson is found.
- AFP