SVEN-GÖRAN ERIKSSON, the England head coach, has reached a compromise with Real Madrid over the involvement of Michael Owen and David Beckham in a friendly match next Tuesday. Eriksson is satisfied with the assurances from the Spanish club that Beckham and Owen will play no more than 45 minutes of the match against Pumas de Mexico, even though both will miss an England training session.
Eriksson had asked Real to omit his players for the match but was not prepared to push the issue, especially now that Jonathan Woodgate, a third England international, has joined Owen and Beckham in Madrid. Instead, Eriksson’s captain and leading centre forward will be flown to England by private jet after the match, meeting Fifa’s requirement that clubs release players four days ahead of competitive fixtures for their country . England play Austria the following Saturday.
“We have enjoyed a good relationship with the club since David Beckham moved to Spain last season,” a spokesman for the FA said. “Sven believes it is important that this relationship is maintained for the future — particularly with such a strong English representation at Real.
“The England squad will meet at lunch time next Tuesday, with the Madrid-based players arriving later that evening. Therefore, they will be available for all but the first training session.”
The FA will today discuss appointing an independent chairman to lead the forthcoming review of the structure of the English game’s governing body. The review was ordered in the wake of the scandal involving Eriksson, Faria Alam and Mark Palios, the former chief executive.
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The FA has been informed that the Government favours the involvement of an outsider and, while it is not obliged to follow the advice, the issue will be debated at a board meeting today.