By Phil McNulty Chief football writer

Luiz Felipe Scolari's humiliating public rejection of Brian Barwick's advances has reduced the FA chief executive to a figure of ridicule.

Barwick should not take all the blame for the FA fiasco

And while Barwick has to take his share of responsibility for the fiasco that is England's search for a successor to Sven-Goran Eriksson, he must not be the top target in the blame game.

Barwick, a strong and determined personality, is actually a victim of a flawed and nonsensical system that has ended with the FA as a national laughing stock.

Why are so many people involved in what should be a simple process? How has arguably the most coveted job in world football ended up being surrounded in criticism, recriminations and confusion?

If Barwick has failed, it was in his mission to persuade the FA that his first choice Martin O'Neill was the best man for the job.

He may still succeed in his quest, but now it will be an appointment made more by accident than design after the Scolari shambles.

O'Neill, or any other contender, will always know they were second choice.

The ill-starred decision to appoint an England coach by committee was an accident waiting to happen - and the crash came when an emotional Scolari gave his thumbs-down in the Hotel Klosterpforte in Marienfeld, Germany, on Friday.

The suspicion is now raised that an unwitting FA was used shamelessly by Scolari to raise the stakes in his next round of contract negotiations with future employers.

So while the search for a scapegoat has led to finger-pointing in Barwick's direction, what about the other men in the FA's hierarchy who simply cannot do without their little piece of power?

It is widely accepted that Barwick wanted O'Neill to succeed Eriksson. As the man who would work most closely with the next coach, he should have then been given the brief to go and get his man.

Sir Trevor Brooking could have applied a guiding hand, but Barwick should have been left to do the job.

The task should have proved simple.

O'Neill was ready to return to football after a year caring for his sick wife and was - indeed still is - intensely interested in the England job.

But no.

Brian Barwick could still go back for first-choice Martin O'Neill

Here comes a three-man committee comprising Barwick, international committee chairman Noel White and Premier League chairman Dave Richards.

They then report back to the FA chairman Geoff Thompson.

And don't forget Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein - who championed the cause of Scolari.

Here comes a tortuous interview process which apparently rules O'Neill out.

All a recipe for the disastrous mocking headlines that have deservedly greeted the FA.

Scolari would have been an imaginative choice, but his decision to pull out only underscores the ridiculous process Barwick has been heading up.

When Eriksson succeeded Kevin Keegan, former chief executive Adam Crozier was detailed to land the Swede and delivered.

Barwick should have been afforded the same power.

Why should White, who enjoyed a brief spell as Liverpool chairman 15 years ago and remains on the Anfield board, and a former chairman of Sheffield Wednesday in Richards hold such power?

How can Dein suddenly appear on the scene and push Scolari's credentials?

The Scolari saga: How did the Brazilian go from outsider to first choice?

Why make Barwick chief executive and deny him the power to employ England's next coach?

Confused? You will be - the Football Association certainly seems to be.

So in the rush to blame Barwick, let's not forget this is a classic FA case of too many cooks spoiling the broth.

There is still time for Barwick and the FA to save the situation.

Barwick can go back to whatever committee it is he has to satisfy, lobby strongly for his first-choice O'Neill and then go and get him.