The Iceman Cometh

‘HERE’S the headline of the week: “Beckham comes to Eriksson’s aid.”

A circus act

It’s in the Telegraph and appears above a story of how David Beckham says the beleaguered Swede Sven Goran Eriksson is a “great manager” and how much he loves working with him.

“Sven has been a great man to me and to the rest of the England team,” says Dave. “Every one of the players respects him as a manager for what he has done for the team and the country.”

But not what he has done for the FA and the image of the game, one already tarnished by players’ sexual antics.

But Sven has little need of support from the adulterous Beckham – because, as the Times says, the England coach is fighting his own corner. And yesterday he issued a statement.

In it, Sven says that he is distressed by recent “inaccurate comment and speculation about my professional integrity”. He feels that he must set the record straight.

“I wish to state unequivocally that in keeping with the above policy [not to discuss his private affairs] I have at no time either categorically confirmed or denied any relationship with Ms Faria Alam.”

This is not good news for the FA which, when rumours of Sven’s affair came to light, seems to have failed to ask the simple question: “Did you, Sven?”

Instead, the FA rushed out a statement rubbishing the story.

Eriksson may well be suggesting, as the Guardian opines, that he is guilty of nothing, but it’s a great pity he saw fit to sleep with a colleague and then drag the matter out with ambiguous comments and shifty looks.

The only happy thing about the entire matter is that Sven has managed to knock the Patrick Vieira story from even the Sun’s back page.

Today, readers have to wade two pages inside the rag to hear any news of the player.

The Sun – a paper that has spent weeks talking about the Frenchman’s supposed move to Real Madrid – now says the midfielder may not be playing for the Gunners on the first day of the new season…because he might be injured.

But not as damaged as boxing’s image will be after tonight’s bout between journeyman British fighter Danny Williams and the man they couldn’t retire, Mike Tyson.

The Times profiles the fight. But what should be a cause for celebration for British boxing – Williams is a London-based fighter doing battle with the baddest man in sport – is nothing more than a circus freak show.

Ten years or more ago this would have been an epic event. But now seeing Tyson in the ring is just plain sad.’

Posted: 30th, July 2004 | In: Back pages Comment | TrackBack | Permalink