ONE wonders if the embattled Sven-Goran Eriksson will have enough players left to field a team against Denmark tomorrow.

As the Football Association continue their mission to keep the England side the preserve of the holier than thou, who will be the next player to be axed?

Perhaps captain David Beckham will finally be punished for his infamous V-sign to England supporters during Euro 2000?

Will the FA burghers remember that James Beattie, Alan Smith's replacement in the squad, was last year convicted of drink driving?

It's even rumoured that Wayne Rooney recently stole some cola bottles from Woolworths' Pick 'N Mix - so will he too be banished from the squad?

If the FA truly want Eriksson to stay in charge of England beyond next summer's European Championships in Portugal, they have an extremely funny way of showing it.

No sooner had the FA won widespread acclaim for their impeccable handling of the Rio Ferdinand case than they lost all their newly-found respect this week.

The treatment of Smith, a thoroughly decent man in an increasingly contemptible profession, is disgusting and the FA ought to be ashamed of themselves.

It was bad enough that Eriksson cast Smith into the international wilderness for more than a year on the basis of one frustrated tackle against Macedonia.

But then, having given the Leeds United striker the opportunity to restart his England career, the coach had his decision inexplicably reversed by the FA.

At best, the FA's behaviour is misguided; at worst, it is so unsound that it jeopardises England's hopes of mounting a proper assault on Euro 2004.

The players must be beginning to dread international weeks, as they spend more time bickering than playing when they meet up to represent their country.

By sending Smith home, what have the FA achieved?

At a stroke, they have undermined Eriksson and pushed him a step nearer quitting.

Just as unforgivably, they have infuriated the England players and shown themselves to be grossly out of touch with the general public.

Just because Smith has been arrested doesn't mean he is incapable of doing his job.

And since when did FA chief executive Mark Palios become judge, jury and executioner on an incident that has nothing to do with him?

Palios, Adam Crozier's replacement, has claimed he made a "judgment call" in ordering Smith to leave the England camp.

It is a source of great concern that his judgment is so flawed.