In The Wars: England manager's controversies

Glenn Hoddle's remarks in the Times claiming that disabilities are the punishment for sins in a former lifetime are the latest in a series of controversies surrounding the England coach.

These include:

An advertisement for Shredded Wheat which included a happy picture of the coach, his wife Anne and their three children at the breakfast table. This was dropped after Hoddle walked out of his marriage.

Hoddle was later named as co-respondent in the divorce petition of a millionaire property developer and his wife, although he denied any involvement.

He introduced faith healer Eileen Drewery to the England team and, only last September, said he would not tolerate any attempt by the English Football Association to cut short her involvement with the national squad.

He netted £200,000 for his World Cup diary in which he revealed dressing room secrets including Paul Gascoigne's "raging reaction" to being left out of the squad. Many players reportedly felt let down by his betrayal of confidence.

The diary also revealed that Hoddle believed Drewery would have made the 20 per cent difference between success and failure if she had accompanied the England team to France. Critics pointed out that practising penalty kicks - England were eliminated in a shoot-out against Argentina - might have been more useful.

Hoddle was later revealed to be a director of Lychgate Sanctuary Ltd, which he set up with Drewery. His solicitor issued assurances that his client was not profiting from the business venture.

During the World Cup itself Hoddle was slammed for explaining publicly the reasons why Manchester United midfield star David Beckham was initially left out of the England starting line-up. Critics accused him of undermining Beckham's confidence.

Despite the relative failure of his team during the World Cup, Hoddle swiftly renegotiated his contract, wangling a pay increase estimated as being worth up to an extra £100,000 per year.

After England captain Paul Ince was sent off during his side's 2-1 defeat by Sweden last September, Hoddle insisted the player's apparent V sign to the crown as he departed was "not an issue". The FA disagreed, and charged Ince with misconduct.