Sport 14-11-2003 Smith Sacked Following Arrest who: Leeds United striker Alan Smith what: Added to England squad and then dropped within 12 hours where: Elland Road, LEEDS when: Yesterday snippet: "The FA were last night facing another England players revolt over the axing of Leeds striker Alan Smith," says The Sun. "Players rep Gary Neville, with the backing of the whole squad, contacted PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor to organise a battle plan." The Football Association "got the pantomime season under way early," comments The Telegraph`s Henry Winter after Smith became a late addition to the squad for Sunday`s Old Trafford friendly with Denmark only to be dropped again late last night following his arrest by Yorkshire police for an incident at Elland Road on October 28th. Police cautioned Smith over allegations that he threw a bottle back into the crowd at the end of Leeds` Carling Cup match with Manchester United, explains The Independent. The girl who was struck by the bottle has insisted that she will not be making a complaint. "A file was sent to the Crown Prosecution Service and Smith was released on police bail." "Eriksson`s squad has been decimated," continues The Sun`s Shaun Custis in his report, "with injured Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard and Vassell yesterday joining Ferdinand, Michael Owen, Paul Scholes, Sol Campbell and Gareth Southgate on the list of absentees." [... more]

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