Football: STUPID

FA bosses are furious with England captain David Beckham.

They fear he has caused irreparable damage to their attempts to beat the threat of having to play a vital Euro 2004 qualifier in an empty stadium.

Beckham was reported on Friday as saying that playing behind closed doors might be the only way to stamp out the problem of hooliganism. But a highly-placed FA insider fumed: "His quotes were both naive and stupid.

"He should have consulted the FA before speaking out on such a sensitive subject."

Beckham thought he was taking a courageous stand against the hooligans who marred this month's victory over Turkey at the Stadium of Light.

He said: "If we had to play a qualifying game behind closed doors that would be sad for football, sad for England and sad for the proper fans who have to suffer because of the small minority.

"It shouldn't happen, but it might just have to happen to stop this."

Publicly the FA defended Beckham, claiming he expressed his views in a respectful manner. Privately, they are seething.

Ironically, Beckham is suspended for the next qualifier, against Slovakia at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium in June.

The FA face a UEFA hearing next month after charges were brought following the match in Sunderland. They were confident of pleading their case successfully until Beckham's comments.

And a judgment against them could cost the FA as much as pounds 3.5m.

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