England boss Allardyce battles to save his job after being caught in sting operation making controversial comments
Sam Allardyce
Sam Allardyce
London: Sam Allardyce is battling to remain at the England helm as the Football Association investigates secretly-filmed conversations which appear to show the manager making a variety of controversial comments to undercover reporters.
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Named Roy Hodgson's successor after the embarrassing Euro 2016 exit to Iceland, the former Bolton, West Ham and Sunderland boss' position is under enormous scrutiny just 67 days after being handed the role of his dreams.
Evidence of bribery
Allardyce was secretly filmed by the Daily Telegraph's investigations team, during a 10-month probe, which the newspaper claims "separately unearthed widespread evidence of bribery and corruption in British football".
The video appears to show the 61-year-old making numerous controversial remarks about subjects varying from England players to circumventing regulations, and side work to his employers.
The England manager left his home in Bolton, Greater Manchester, shortly before 7 am yesterday without comment. By midday The Times and Telegraph were reporting that Allardyce could face the sack later having been summoned where FA chairman Greg Clarke and chief executive Martin Glenn are said to be holding an emergency meeting.
The FA has refrained from making any official statement, but Press Association Sport understands a sacking outcome would not come as a big surprise to some in the England dressing room.
The Telegraph's video appears to show Allardyce negotiating a £400,000 deal to address investors in a Far East firm, albeit saying he would "have to run it past the powers that be" before committing to a deal. The England manager was also captured appearing to tell a fictitious businessman how to circumvent third-party ownership laws, saying it was "not a problem" to get around FA rules which stop third parties "'owning" football players' economic rights.
The FA banned the controversial practice in 2008 over concerns that it compromised the integrity of the game, as the third party could profit whenever a player was sold. When asked about the rules, Allardyce was filmed on a hidden camera apparently saying: "It's not a problem."
The footage makes for uncomfortable viewing and former England striker Gary Lineker believes the Telegraph's clandestine recording could be justified.
'Entrapment journalism good'
"Don't like entrapment journalism but if it leads to the necessary investigation into the murky waters of corruption in our game then good," Lineker posted on Twitter.
"We can get on our high horses about FIFA. but we have a large glass house of our own. Biggest issue for Sam Allardyce is advising on getting around 3rd party rules. As well, of course, as very poor judgement."
The standards of behaviour set out by the FA in its England DNA philosophy, a plan built with the aim of creating winning England teams, has four key components: pride, excellence, collaboration and integrity.
Under the integrity header, it says: "We strive for the highest standards on and off the field. Nothing less is acceptable."
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