By Andy Baggott
November 14 2003

Another farcical day at the FA led to Alan Smith being recalled from the International wilderness, and promptly dropped a few hours later. The day started badly for Smith, arrested in connection with the bottle throwing incident in the cup game against Man Utd. He was questioned and released whilst the Police and CPS decide whether to bring charges. Despite the fact it was a plastic bottle, Smith apologised, and the girl didn’t want to take it further, the West Yorkshire Police decided, in their wisdom, that it would be in the public’s interest to take it further – so that’s alright then.
Smith then got the news that he had been called up to replace the prolific Darrius Vassell (no goals this season) – Smithy (and James Beattie) should have been in the squad already, but Sven at least got it right in the end. A few hours later, and Smithy was out again. The FA decided that because he had been arrested and released on bail, he couldn’t play for his country. This despite the fact that Nicky Butt played three games for England whilst on bail previously. The FA, in the wake of the Rio Ferdinand investigation, are running around in circles, and making a complete mess of it all. The England players are again threatening a revolt, as they did with Ferdinand in defence of Smith.