Football: Sven: My love for England

SVEN Goran Eriksson has told the FA that he won't quit England over his affair with Ulrika Jonsson.

The FA feared Eriksson would walk out after his relationship with the blonde TV personality was revealed.

Eriksson, an intensely private man, had initially raised reservations about becoming England coach because of the public exposure which goes hand in hand with the job.

The FA were so concerned about his reaction to stories about his love life that they asked him for re-assurances about his future just weeks before the start of the World Cup.

Although his long term girlfriend Nancy Dell'Olio vowed to stand by him, she intimated to Italian journalist that Eriksson was considering his position in light of the accusations.

She said: "I won't put pressure on Sven, I won't intrude in his work. But it's up to him to make a decision about his future here.

"Of course he's not happy, he is beside himself over these claims."

With Lazio and Barcelona offering Eriksson and instant escape route frantic calls from the FA were made to clarify their manager's position. The revelations had even caught them by surprise and they came under siege from callers claiming that news was spreading that Eriksson had quit.

But on Friday Eriksson met the FA's chief executive Adam Crozier and assured him that he had no intention of walking out on England.

He said: "This is a private matter that I will deal with. It has no bearing on my position with the national team and I have no intention of walking away from the job at this stage."

Eriksson insists he will weather the storm and added: "My private life shouldn't be for public consumption, but I have not worked this hard to just get up and leave over a trivial matter."

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