January 27

January 27, 2002 (Sunday) from Jonathan Woodgate Club

Crozier: England will give second chances

FA chief executive Adam Crozier stressed the need to give wayward players a "second chance" as he insisted double-standards would never be applied to disciplinary measures.

Crozier has yet to rule, along with Sven-Goran Eriksson, on the international futures of Leeds duo Lee Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate.

Woodgate will not be considered by England at least until he has completed his 100-hour community service punishment after being found guilty of affray.

Bowyer, meanwhile, is available to play for his country after being cleared of grievous bodily harm and affray.

But he could yet be kept out of next month's friendly against Holland depending on the outcome of two FA disciplinary hearings just before the squad is announced.

"What Sven and I are trying to say is that you can't keep holding things against people forever," declared Crozier.

"If someone has done something wrong, they pay for it and you then have to give them a second chance in life.

"You can't rule anyone out forever. That would be immensely unfair.

"We have judged each case on its own merits and that's all you can ever do.

"But it wouldn't matter who they were, we would just look at the circumstances surrounding each case and make a decision."

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