adminROY Hodgson’s future as England manager depends on how well the team fare at Euro 2016, Football Association chairman Greg Dyke said in a BBC radio interview broadcast yesterday. Dyke, who steps down this month, said that Hodgson’s contract, which is due to expire at the end of the tournament, will be extended if the team “do well” and “play well” in France.
He also expressed confidence that the 2018 World Cup will go ahead as planned in Russia despite violent clashes between English and Russian fans in Marseille last weekend. Discussing Hodgson’s future, Dyke told BBC Radio: “Clearly if you get to the semifinals, that’s success.
“If we’ve played well and unfortunately lost against a good team or on penalties (in the quarterfinals) then that’s a discussion that will go on.” England need a point in their final Group B game against Slovakia in Saint-Etienne today to reach the last 16.
Hodgson, 68, has indicated that he would like to stay in his role. He succeeded Fabio Capello as England manager in May 2012. On the Russia World Cup, Dyke said: “You can’t hold Russia to account because a bunch of organised thugs got together and caused mayhem in a particular place.”
The Football Union of Russia was fined 150,000 euros ($169,000) after violence marred their team’s 1-1 draw with England in Marseille. Uefa has formally warned Russia it will be disqualified from the tournament if its supporters are involved in more violence, while England has also been told its supporters must not be involved in any further incidents.
Groups of Russian fans have already been deported after French police blamed well-trained Russian hooligans for instigating violence. — BBC Sport
Online Reporter