Eriksson makes allegations over illegal payments

England manager Sven Goran Eriksson has told the News of the World that three English Premier League clubs have been involved in illegal payments.

The allegations by Eriksson and his agent Athole Still relate to payments made in transfer deals.

They are said to have been made at a meeting in Dubai with the Sunday paper's undercover reporter known as the 'fake sheikh' who posed as a wealthy Arab businessman.

Britain's biggest-selling paper does not name the clubs for legal reasons but it does offer clues to their identities.

An FA spokesman said: "We will reflect on the allegations and assess them."

Eriksson is suing the News of the World after it quoted him telling the reporter he was ready to leave the England manager's job after this year's World Cup.

The latest revelations come after the FA spoke to Luton Town manager Mike Newell following allegations he made about financial irregularities within the game.

Newell said he had been offered bungs, or under-the-table financial inducements, while negotiating transfer deals and the FA is now reflecting on their private conversation with him.

On Friday the FA contacted Queen's Park Rangers manager Ian Holloway following allegations he made about being offered an illegal payment by an agent.

Meanwhile, Eriksson was yesterday asked to appear before the Football Association's compliance unit.

"Further to today's allegations in the News of the World concerning Sven-Goran Eriksson, the Football Association has this morning requested from the newspaper details of all the conversations which are alleged to have taken place with an undercover reporter in Dubai," the FA said in a statement.

"Additionally, FA chief executive Brian Barwick has spoken to Sven-Goran Eriksson regarding the allegations and will discuss them further with him on Monday (today)."