Ms Alam seems to deny she was harassed in the newspaper article

Faria Alam, 39, claimed that she was sexually harassed by her boss - FA executive director David Davies.

But in a Mail on Sunday interview, given last year but published this week, she denied he had "tried it on".

Ms Alam, who had an affair with Sven-Goran Eriksson, said the accounts were not contradictory.

Ms Alam had already given evidence but was recalled to the employment tribunal to explain the apparent discrepancy.

Ms Alam quit after her affairs with Eriksson and FA chief executive Mark Palios were revealed.

Ms Alam, who was the personal assistant to Mr Davies, is claiming unfair dismissal, sexual discrimination and breach of contract against the FA and is thought to be seeking �30,000 in compensation.

I don't see anything bad about him - we had a great rapport and I didn't find him difficult to work for Faria Alam

Last week she accused Mr Davies of making "unwanted advances".

She claimed he had tried to hug and kiss her on several occasions.

However, in an interview given to the Mail on Sunday last year, but first published this week, Ms Alam seemed to dismiss suggestions of harassment.

Asked if Mr Davies had "tried it on", she replied: "No, no."

And she went on: "I don't see anything bad about him. We had a great rapport and I didn't find him difficult to work for."

Under cross-examination on Tuesday, Ms Alam said she stood by both sets of words.

Jeffrey Bacon, for the FA, said: "You simply told a lie, knowing you were telling a lie and you were expecting that it would never come out [the interview] and you would get away with it."

Ms Alam said: "I am not trying to get away with anything."

The former secretary said she had not brought up the alleged harassment last year because she felt sorry for his wife and did not want to bring Mr Davies into the furore.

"I didn't want to bring anyone else into it and it is true he's a good boss," Miss Alam said.

'No deceit'

And she said that she had never been untruthful.

"I'm not being deceitful. I stand by what I said last year and I stand by what I said this year."

Mr Davies has denied claims that he sexually harassed Ms Alam.

And statements provided by two previous secretaries have supported claims of his good character.

Ms Alam denies quitting her job so as to make money from newspapers.