The chilling news that was kept from Beckham

England captain plays for United without knowledge of the foiled plot to kidnap his wife as a turbulent week for football is given a macabre twist

If Sven Goran Eriksson was feeling exposed after the events of this week, it was as nothing to the emotions that will have swamped David Beckham after he walked off the pitch at Old Trafford. Winning a football match ­ Manchester United beat Southampton 2-1 ­ pales when compared with the news that greeted the England captain about the alleged plot by a five-man gang to kidnap his wife, Victoria, which was thwarted by police yesterday following a "sting" involving the News of the World. Beckham's wife knew of the police arrests at lunchtime but kept the information from her husband.

Being in the public eye has its downside, but kidnapping is not something that generally comes with fame and fortune. Usually the hassles do not stretch far beyond the boundaries of the activity that makes a person famous. Eriksson's problems have been typical. No sooner had the England coach shrugged off the exposure of potentially embarrassing elements of his private life and an old flame's autobiography, than he found himself having to cope with the dismissal of the man who appointed him, the Football Association's chief executive Adam Crozier, and the loss of a trusted aide in Steve McClaren, the Middlesbrough manager.

The Swede chose to bury himself in football's biggest party of the weekend. He was among the 67,691 who turned up at Old Trafford to see if Manchester United could combat recent uncertainties. They did so ­ but only up to a point ­ courtesy of a man who has struggled to overcome his own difficulties, Diego Forlan. Having scored his first Premiership goal last week, the goal-shy Uruguayan came on as a late substitute to thunder in a spectacular winner, set up by Juan Sebastian Veron 25 yards out.

The match had begun promisingly enough for United with Phil Neville providing a perfect response to criticism from his manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, that he did not score enough from midfield by claiming the opening goal after 15 minutes. But Fabrice Fernandes quickly proved the new resilience of Southampton by equalising.

In fact the Saints also underlined the fragility that still haunts United and could consider themselves unlucky to have nothing to show for their efforts. Ruud van Nistelrooy returned to United's attack, but made little impact until early in the second half when he tackled a spectator who ran on to the pitch. That idiot's intrusion highlighted another fear of the famous, that there is no way of telling the difference between a troublemaker and a troubled soul intent on harming a sporting hero.

If Eriksson had been inspired by the opening goal to consider Neville anew as the solution to England's enduring problem on the pitch ­ who should play in left midfield ­ then reports filtering through from Anfield would have reassured him that while FA chief executives and excellent coaches like McClaren may go, some certainties remain. The occasional inevitable barren spell aside, Michael Owen can score goals. Two more strikes from England's attacking inspiration gave Liverpool a 2-0 home win over West Ham United that sent them seven points clear at the top of the table.

Liverpool's advantage will be reduced today if Arsenal can break out of their remarkable run of 2-1 defeats when they take on Fulham at Loftus Road today. The London derby is one of five matches put back a day to allow the teams involved in European competition, other than Liverpool, an extended period of recovery.

That meant the remainder of yesterday's action involved teams who, even at this early stage of the season, are concerned about the prospect of relegation. Two of those who won promotion in May met at The Hawthorns, where Manchester City beat their hosts, West Bromwich Albion, 2-1. The other newly promoted side, Birmingham City, prevailed 3-1 over the Premiership's bottom club, Bolton Wanderers, who contributed to their own downfall by having Ricardo Gardner sent off.

All concerned with those apparently threatened clubs know that on the pitch, as in the boardroom of a business or organisation, the principal players stand or fall by their achievements. The difference, as in Forlan's case at Old Trafford, is that the team want individuals to succeed because it reflects well on them, too. David Sheepshanks, Ipswich Town's chairman and a former chairman of the Football League, believes it was such backing that Crozier lacked as chief executive of the FA. He thinks the Scot was let down by the FA Board and its chairman, Geoff Thompson. In his programme notes for Ipswich's home game against Crystal Palace today, Sheepshanks says: "It does not sit well with me that the game has lost one of its brightest assets in such a power struggle. Adam Crozier, to his credit, has played his full part in modernising and transforming the image of the Football Association. He may stand accused of exceeding his authority at times, but the question remains open as to whether he ever received appropriate and clear direction."

To Sheepshanks that is evident in the complaints that Crozier made decisions without consultation. "Normally, if the relationship between chief executive, chairman and board is working properly, this should not be possible. Indeed they should provide the support and direction for the chief executive to implement."

The solution, Sheepshanks believes, is to put independent directors on the Board to counteract the vested interests of those members representing the game. He says: "It must be possible to select certain luminary aficionados of football. There are countless brilliant, visionary business leaders who love the game and who could fit the bill. This would give an FA Board far more objectivity and foresight as would befit one charged with the direction of football in England."