Eriksson blasts 'crazy' FA

Sven-Goran Eriksson appeared to be at loggerheads again with his employers as he described the Football Association's handling of the Rio Ferdinand drugs case as "crazy".

The FA have already begun a review of their procedures in an effort to avoid a repeat of the Alan Smith fiasco which dominated-England's build-up to their friendly against Denmark.

But Eriksson, who will be consulted over the review and is paid £3million-a-year by the FA, said: "It's crazy that after eight weeks we don't know yet if Rio Ferdinand is guilty or not, whether he's going to be punished with a ban or fined.

"Yet he's still been banned for England for the past eight weeks. In countries that I've been in, you can be picked until you have been judged. I just don't understand or agree with the system. Also, when a player has a red card or anything else, the process is far too long and I don't think it's fair."

Brendon Batson, a former PFA deputy chief executive and now managing director at West Brom, is to head a working-group which will look at the FA's disciplinary procedures.

That review will run in tandem with another group, which will include FA chief executive Mark Palios, director of football affairs David Davies and senior England players who will want new procedures in place before England's next match, a friendly against Portugal in February.