Exclusive by Phil McNulty
Chief football writer |
Sven-Goran Eriksson's position as England coach has been seriously undermined by the decision to drop Alan Smith from the squad to face Denmark, claims PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor.
 |  The FA has clearly undermined the position of its coach Sven-Goran Eriksson |
Taylor condemned the decision to withdraw the Leeds striker only hours after his call-up when it was revealed he had been arrested following a bottle-throwing incident at Elland Road.
He told this website that Smith had been "humiliated" by the Football Association's decision to remove him from the squad for the friendly at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Taylor insisted there is no question of a players' strike - but admitted the England squad were unhappy at Smith's treatment at the hands of the FA.
Smith joined the squad, but was then ordered home after the FA learned he had been quizzed by police after throwing a plastic bottle into the crowd during the Carling Cup defeat against Manchester United.
Taylor told the BBC: "This is like a Whitehall farce. We've had the build up to one game disrupted with the Rio Ferdinand business, and now this. Farcical is the best word to describe it.
"One minute the manager is told he can select Alan Smith then suddenly there is a change of mind.
"It is hunting season for footballers, and this has totally undermined Sven-Goran Eriksson and the team.
"There is no way that anyone can say this is treating Sven-Goran Eriksson with respect after the job he has done for England in getting them to Euro 2004.
"There is a perception from within the game, never mind outside, that what has happened is clearly undermining the manager and his players.
"I would also suggest that one part of the FA does not know what the other is doing because I was with the chairman, Geoffrey Thompson, in Zurich on Thursday and he had no knowledge of this."
And Taylor revealed the discontent inside England's squad when he said: "You can imagine they are not happy to say the least. They wonder what is going on with regard to the selection process.
"It is a humiliation for the player concerned and I think the FA is making policy on the hoof.
"My discussions with the England players will remain confidential, but they are clearly upset at the way this has happened and the way in which one of their colleagues has been treated."
But he added: "The Denmark game will go ahead - just as the Turkey game was always going to go ahead."
Smith has been questioned by West Yorkshire Police over the allegations.
He was then released on bail but will have to return to a police station at a later date and a file will be passed to the Crown Prosecution Service.
MMIX
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