Sam Allardyce could be banned from
football following the revelations that brought his reign as England
manager to an abrupt end, Football Association Chief executive Martin
Glenn said Saturday.
Allardyce’s dream job ended after just
67 days as the Daily Telegraph newspaper released secretly filmed
footage of him making controversial remarks about a variety of subjects,
including side work and circumventing FA regulations.
The FA is awaiting the newspaper’s full transcript before deciding what action, if any, to take against the 61-year-old.
Glenn said charges could be brought against Allardyce and punishments “could range from a fine to a ban”.
“It is realistic,” Glenn said when asked if charges could follow. “I am
pleased that the Telegraph are releasing (the full transcripts) to the
police first because that is what has to happen.
“Once we get access to that, we have a
separate integrity unit,” explained Glenn, who admitted he had felt “let
down” by Allardyce.
“I have asked myself a lot about this,”
he said. “The easy decision was actually to keep him and tough it out. I
do feel let down because I genuinely think for football reasons he was a
really good choice and just what we needed after the Euros.”
Meanwhile, Glenn admitted Arsenal
manager Arsene Wenger is among the candidates who “perfectly” fit the
criteria to take the England job.
England Under-21 boss Gareth Southgate
has been placed in interim charge for the remaining four matches of
2016, giving Glenn, FA chairman Greg Clarke and technical director Dan
Ashworth the chance to take their time when recruiting a full-time
successor.
Frenchman Wenger, 66, is out of contract
in the summer and would fit the bill, and he even said on Friday: “If I
am free one day, why not?”
And Glenn acknowledged: “Of course he’d fit the criteria perfectly. Of course he would, as would a few others.”
AFP
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