England in turmoil again after Alan Smith dropped following arrest

MANCHESTER, England (AP) -- For the second game in a row, England has been thrown into disarray by the Football Association's decision to exclude a player for a disciplinary offense.

Just hours after being called up to the squad for Sunday's friendly against Denmark at Old Trafford, Leeds United striker Alan Smith was sent home late Thursday after being arrested in connection with a bottle-throwing incident.

Last month, Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand was omitted from the England squad for the Euro 2004 qualifier against Turkey after failing to take a random drug test.

England players threatened to boycott the Turkey game in protest at Ferdinand's exclusion, but eventually backed down.

The players were reportedly angry at the treatment of Smith, but it wasn't immediately clear whether they planned any protest.

The start of training was delayed by 30 minutes Friday morning, and scheduled players' news conferences in the afternoon were canceled without explanation.

Southampton striker James Beattie, who has scored eight goals for the Saints this season, was called up Friday to replace Smith. Beattie, who played in four recent England matches, had originally been bypassed by coach Sven-Goran Eriksson for the Denmark game in a major surprise.

The Smith affair was a major embarrassment for Eriksson, who had called up the Leeds star after Darius Vassell injured his knee in an Aston Villa friendly in Dubai.

Eriksson was apparently unaware that Smith, who threw a plastic bottle into the crowd during a Leeds-Manchester United game last month, had been arrested and questioned Thursday by West Yorkshire police.

Smith was released on bail without charge but ordered to return for further questioning at a later date.

An empty bottle was thrown onto the pitch during Leeds' 3-2 extra time loss to Manchester United in a League Cup game at Elland Road on Oct. 28.

Television replays clearly showed Smith picking up the bottle and throwing it back into the crowd. The bottle hit a female Leeds fan -- the sister of one of his best friends. She was not seriously hurt, and Smith apologized the next day.

Senior FA officials met late into the night Thursday before deciding that Smith should be ineligible for England duty while under police investigation.

"The FA concluded that it would be inappropriate for Alan to remain with the England squad at this time," the association said in a statement Friday.

The FA said it had known that Smith would be questioned by police Thursday but the "voluntary interview" had been arranged before the player knew he would be selected for the England squad.

The FA and Eriksson were not aware that Smith might be arrested, the statement said.

As a result of the confusion, the FA said it was conducting an internal review of its procedures regarding the selection of players facing any kind of police action.

"I am sad for Alan," Eriksson said. "I know he has already apologized for what has happened and, once the case is concluded, I have told Alan that this will not affect his chances of future selection with England."

Professional Footballers Association chief executive Gordon Taylor sharply criticized the FA for its handling of Smith's case, describing it as a "farce," but said the players were not considering a strike.

"It's humiliating and very embarrassing for him," Taylor said. "It's no way to run a football team, no way to run anything. The players feel strongly about a colleague who has been badly treated. ... The FA is making policy on the hoof."

Leeds issued a statement saying it "understands" the decision to leave Smith off the England squad,

"We look forward to a speedy resolution of the matter so that Alan can resume his England career as soon as possible," chief executive Trevor Birch said.

Smith is the latest English soccer player arrested in recent weeks. Leeds teammate Jody Morris has been questioned in connection with two alleged sexual assaults, and several unidentified players are under investigation in an alleged gang rape in London.

(sw)