The Italian Football Association have denied making an approach to England coach Sven Goran Eriksson about the possibility of the Swede replaving Giovanni Trapattoni as coach of the Italian national side.

Eriksson was rumoured to be unhappy following the twin departureslast week of FA chief executive Adam Crozier and assistant coach Steve McClaren, and a return to Italy where he coached Lazio to the Scudetto was mooted. However, Federation’s president Franco Carraro has assured his opposite number that no approach to Eriksson has been made.

‘This morning the Federation’s president Franco Carraro sent a letter to his opposite number at the English Football Association, Geoff Thompson, to assure him about the rumours concerning Mr Eriksson,’ a Federation spokesman said.

‘It is not the policy of our federation to make contact with coaches currently under contract. No one from FIGChas made any contact with Mr Eriksson,’ he added.

Eriksson himsellf, denied that he had any intention of quitting his post.

Officials from the FIGC are to meet with present incumbent Trapattoni later today, with some reports suggesting the veteran Italian coach will be sacked.