Post by Salem6 on Nov 14, 2003 7:22:10 GMT
Leeds United striker Alan Smith has left the England squad following his arrest for allegedly throwing a bottle at fans during a game against Manchester United.
Smith was drafted into Sven-Goran Eriksson's party on Thursday evening when Darius Vassell, who suffered a knee injury playing for Aston Villa in a friendly in Dubai on Wednesday, was forced to pull out.
But around five hours after he arrived at the England squad's Manchester hotel the Football Association apparently learned that he had been interviewed by Yorkshire police earlier in the day.
Smith was released without charge but the Crown Prosecution Service will continue to investigate the incident, which is alleged to have happened during a Carling Cup match at Elland Road on 28 October.
Manager Eriksson appears to have been told by his employers at the FA that Smith had to leave the squad, despite only having been in the hotel for between four and five hours.
Football Association spokesman Adrian Bevington said on Thursday: "Further to discussions this evening, Alan Smith has left the England squad and returned to Leeds.
"I hope this will not damage the special relationship I have with the Leeds fans" Smith's statement after the Man Utd game.
"We will be issuing a full statement on Friday morning."
Smith's departure again leaves Eriksson with just two strikers for Sunday's friendly against Denmark.
The England boss picked just three centre-forwards for the game at Old Trafford - Vassell, Wayne Rooney and Emile Heskey.
Vassell was then given FA permission to travel with his club side Aston Villa to Dubai for Wednesday's friendly against Al Nasr, only to pick up a knee injury during the match.
Smith was selected as a replacement but his departure leaves Eriksson with just Heskey and Rooney, who has just shrugged off flu.
For Leeds star Smith the exit is a blow as he had just been called up for the first time since being sent-off against Macedonia at Southampton 13 months ago.
He had previously apologised to a girl who was in the crowd during the 3-2 defeat, after being seen on television throwing an object off the pitch.
In a statement he said: "I have spoken to the family of the young lady concerned to make sure she is all right and I have apologised.
"The family and I believe this is the end of the matter.
"I hope this will not damage the special relationship I have with the Leeds fans."
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Smith was drafted into Sven-Goran Eriksson's party on Thursday evening when Darius Vassell, who suffered a knee injury playing for Aston Villa in a friendly in Dubai on Wednesday, was forced to pull out.
But around five hours after he arrived at the England squad's Manchester hotel the Football Association apparently learned that he had been interviewed by Yorkshire police earlier in the day.
Smith was released without charge but the Crown Prosecution Service will continue to investigate the incident, which is alleged to have happened during a Carling Cup match at Elland Road on 28 October.
Manager Eriksson appears to have been told by his employers at the FA that Smith had to leave the squad, despite only having been in the hotel for between four and five hours.
Football Association spokesman Adrian Bevington said on Thursday: "Further to discussions this evening, Alan Smith has left the England squad and returned to Leeds.
"I hope this will not damage the special relationship I have with the Leeds fans" Smith's statement after the Man Utd game.
"We will be issuing a full statement on Friday morning."
Smith's departure again leaves Eriksson with just two strikers for Sunday's friendly against Denmark.
The England boss picked just three centre-forwards for the game at Old Trafford - Vassell, Wayne Rooney and Emile Heskey.
Vassell was then given FA permission to travel with his club side Aston Villa to Dubai for Wednesday's friendly against Al Nasr, only to pick up a knee injury during the match.
Smith was selected as a replacement but his departure leaves Eriksson with just Heskey and Rooney, who has just shrugged off flu.
For Leeds star Smith the exit is a blow as he had just been called up for the first time since being sent-off against Macedonia at Southampton 13 months ago.
He had previously apologised to a girl who was in the crowd during the 3-2 defeat, after being seen on television throwing an object off the pitch.
In a statement he said: "I have spoken to the family of the young lady concerned to make sure she is all right and I have apologised.
"The family and I believe this is the end of the matter.
"I hope this will not damage the special relationship I have with the Leeds fans."
Update link:-
salem6taxigirl.proboards22.com/index.cgi?board=Dom&action=display&thread=1068809626