FA cries foul as Sven scores away from home

Sven-Goran Eriksson, 60-something England manager, Faria Alam, 20-something FA staffer, and Mark Palios, 50-something chief executive of the FA

THE GAME

It seems both Eriksson and Palios (effectively the manager’s boss) had affairs with Alam, though not at the same time. Incidentally, Eriksson had a well-publicised affair with Swedish TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson two years ago

THE WHISTLEBLOWER

The News of the World reported Eriksson’s affair on July 19. FA denied it the same day, based on quotes from Eriksson, then on holiday, and from Alam.

THE GAME’S UP

News... then brandished a series of e-mails from Alam to friends detailing her affair with Eriksson. On Saturday, FA admitted they were true, and added that Palios had also had an ‘‘extremely brief relationship’’ with Alam

PENALTY SHOOTOUT

FA initially said all three were single adults and so hadn’t breached moral code. But subsequently ordered an inquiry (for next week) on one key point: Did Eriksson lie in denying the affair, or was he misquoted? If he lied, the FA — which defended him in public — has reasonable grounds to sack him. If not, they could still dismiss him, but he walks away with a $20-million payoff on what’s left of his contract

FOR & AGAINST

Very few for Eriksson. His closest friend in FA is Palios, who now has no leg to stand on. FA suits are upset over Swede grabbing headlines for wrong reasons, both over private life and his liaisons with Chelsea. And record as manager doesn’t make his case any stronger