Sven-Goran Eriksson is preparing to face his employers at the Football Association after allegedly telling a Sunday newspaper about corruption at certain top-level clubs.

The England manager is reported to have told an undercover reporter from the News of the World that some, unnamed managers “put money in their pocket”.

Eriksson’s comments came in the same meeting with the newspaper that produced last week’s revelations about him quitting his post after the World Cup finals in Germany.

Eriksson has been reported as saying that corruption is rife in the Premiership with certain unnamed managers happy to take bribes.

On Sunday Eriksson’s agent Athole Still issued a statement about the claims.

He said that neither himself nor Eriksson claimed that top Premiership clubs were riddled with corruption.

The statement read:
* At no time did Mr Eriksson or Mr Still say that ‘top Premiership clubs are riddled with corruption’.

* Careful reading of the articles shows that both Mr Eriksson and Mr Still were reacting conversationally to a topical subject of debate initiated by their hosts and already being discussed in football circles and the media.

* At no time did either Mr Eriksson or Mr Still claim to have any evidence in relation to improper transfer dealings in football.

* On Sunday, Still attended a meeting with the FA at the request of chief executive Brian Barwick. Mr Eriksson and Mr Still will co-operate fully with any further discussions with the FA and its Compliance Unit.

FA chief executive Brian Barwick also released a statement on Sunday.

“Allegations made during the past week have not been good for the game’s image,” read his statement on the FA website.

“However, the FA fully appreciates the importance of supporting Sven and the England team in the build-up to and during the World Cup this summer.

“I would like to call on everyone connected with the game to get behind Sven and the team over the next five months as we count down to what we all believe is one of our best opportunities in a World Cup finals for many years.”

The news coupled with last week’s harmful revelatios about Eriksson have led to grpowing speculation in the English media that Eriksson will be sacked after the World Cup finals.

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