FA admit Sven affair

The Football Association has admitted that England coach Sven Goran Eriksson had an affair after it previously denied the rumours, it has been reported.

Eriksson was said to have split with his lover Nancy Dell'Olio amid newspaper allegations that he was having a relationship with FA secretary Faria Alam.

The News of the World today revealed details of an e-mail from the 38-year-old former model to a friend which disclosed the relationship.

Miss Alam has strenuously denied the affair, and her employers issued several statements which said that the claims were inaccurate.

However, the FA climbed down after the newspaper said it produced the new e-mail evidence.

The statement said: "Earlier in the week the Football Association made statements on behalf of Faria Alam denying that she has a sexual relationship with the England coach Sven Goran Eriksson.

"New evidence has been presented to us in the form of e-mails which Ms Alam has sent to friends about the relationship and, having made further inquiries, we can confirm that a relationship did take place."

Miss Dell'Olio flew to Britain from her Italian homeland earlier this week for showdown talks with Eriksson at their £2 million mansion near London's Regent Park.

Eriksson, 56, later left their deluxe property alone on Tuesday, reportedly with an overnight case.

She was said to be furious at reports that Eriksson had been calling the secretary regularly for several months.

The relationship between Miss Dell'Olio and Eriksson dates back to the time when he was manager of Italian club Lazio.

The Swede recently agreed a multi-million pound deal to stay on as England coach for the next four years.