The English FA yesterday suffered one of its most embarrassing moments when it admitted that the England manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson, and its chief executive, Mark Palios, both had an affair with the same woman, who worked as a secretary for the organisation.

The FA has been left particularly embarrassed over news of the affair between Eriksson (56), and Faria Alam (38), because it had spent the past week denying it took place and had threatened legal action against the newspaper that first published details of the story.

However, after being presented with evidence by the News of the World, the FA said in a statement yesterday: "New evidence has been presented to us in the form of emails which Ms Alam has sent to friends about the relationship and, having made further inquiries, we can confirm that a relationship did take place."

The statement also revealed that Alam had previously been involved with Palios. It said: "With regard to . . . Mark Palios . . . we have seen evidence from emails sent by Ms Alam, and having made further inquiries, we can confirm an extremely brief relationship did take place."

Questions are likely to be raised about Eriksson's future and the impact his affair with Alam had on his management, after it was reported it took place before, during and after the European championships in Portugal.

Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger is worried that Hatem Trabelsi's move to Arsenal is about to collapse.

The Ajax full-back had seemed certain to move to Highbury once the Dutch champions confirmed acceptance of a £4 million offer from the Gunners.

Although the Arsenal manager wants the Tunisian defender, he admits the deal is far from being completed due to a problem over the player's personal terms.

The Frenchman's battle to keep hold of Patrick Vieira is also far from over. Wenger insisted, however, he does not want to sign Maniche from Porto.

The Portugal midfielder has been linked with the Gunners as a replacement for Vieira if he moves to Real Madrid for a reported £30 million.

Maniche's agent has even claimed that Wenger made an approach, fuelling speculation that Vieira is determined to move to the Bernabeu.

Wenger has tried to rubbish the speculation. "(Maniche) is a good player, but nothing more that that. We are not interested in him," he said.

Liverpool are in talks to sign Spanish defender Josemi from Malaga with the 24-year-old set to become the first major signing for Liverpool's manager, Rafael Benitez. A £2.65 million fee has been agreed for Josemi.

In what might prove his final act as Everton's chairman, Bill Kenwright will today challenge Paul Gregg, the fellow director determined to depose him, to offer substantive proof of his ability to invest £15 million in the troubled club.

Kenwright's problem is that, without selling Wayne Rooney - whose future will also be up for discussion today - he lacks the funds necessary to strengthen a squad which has witnessed 16 departures and only two arrivals this summer.

A late goal by the Vicente Sanchez secured a 2-1 victory for Uruguay over the defending champions Colombia and third place in the Copa America.

Uruguay had gone ahead after three minutes through Fabian Estoyanoff before Colombia levelled in the 71st with a penalty by Sergio Herrera in the game played in Cuzco, Peru.

Dundalk will have Trevor Vaughan available again for this evening's FAI Cup second-round replay against local rivals Drogheda United at United Park this evening.

The Premier Division outfit go into the game with an unchanged squad, with Alan Reilly still absent.