Soccer: FA on ‘dangerous ground’ over Woodgate snub
PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor has warned the Football Association they are on ‘‘dangerous ground’’ after Jonathan Woodgate’s omission from the England squad.
Sven-Goran Eriksson did not even consider Woodgate for his squad for Wednesday’s friendly with Italy after discussions with right-hand man Tord Grip and FA chief executive Adam Crozier.
The 22-year-old Leeds centre-back recently completed a 100-hour community service sentence for his conviction for affray.
But he was not picked for the game at Elland Road, with the reasoning apparently being to prevent pressure on him while ensuring the squad’s World Cup preparations are not adversely affected.
But Taylor told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘‘I think you get into very dangerous ground when you’re picking a football team for non-football reasons.
‘‘I thought this civilisation was about when people had served their penalty they were allowed to get on with their life.’’
And Taylor also urged the Premier League and the FA not to forget the current ITV Digital row when negotiating television contracts in the future.
ITV Digital want to renege on their Football League TV deal, cutting payments drastically, but Taylor hopes parent companies Granada and Carlton are not allowed to put this episode behind them.
He added: ‘‘So many league clubs would have to go out of business. Football clubs have a great capacity to survive but I’ve always said it’s wrong to rely on television money.
‘‘Deals are deals they can’t just avoid their responsibility.
‘‘I would hope that everybody in football the Premier League and the Football Association whenever they become involved with these companies, negotiating TV deals, say they can’t be dealing with them and their attitude.’’
