Why the FA have no problem with Maria

THERE are £400million worth of reasons why the FA will not criticise kit suppliers Nike for continuing to sponsor tennis drugs cheat Maria Sharapova.

Nike’s £32m-a-year kit deal with the FA expires in 2018 and there will be a three-month exclusive negotiating period in the middle of next year for the swoosh brand to thrash out a new agreement.

There is keenness on both sides to extend the partnership despite the widespread condemnation of the US sports brand for backing glamour girl Sharapova after her two-year ban earlier this week for testing positive for banned substance meldonium.

The FA will be looking to increase the price of supplying their shirts to at least £40m annually — especially with a good showing at Euro 2016 in France after a dismal World Cup in Brazil two years ago.

Nike’s preference is to tie their major clients to 10-year deals. That would be worth at least £400m, which is why the FA would need a lot of persuading to fall out with Nike, whatever the provocation. THE FA international committee breaks new ground tonight when FA ambassador, Premier League chairman Peter McCormick, brings his wife to an away match — a move that was met with loud disapproval by some of the dinosaur blazers despite their own partners always being wined and dined at Wembley matches with an overnight stay. However, Kathryn McCormick is adamant she does not want to be labelled a WAG. FA PRESIDENT Prince William ( right) is choosing to attend England’s third Group B game against Slovakia in Saint-Etienne next Monday — which could easily be a dead rubber — rather than tonight’s game against Russia in Marseille or the showcase game against Wales on Thursday for which all the FA board are travelling to Lens. However, that match would have presented complications as to which side William would support. He is also Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union and was backing the Principality when they beat England in last year’s Rugby World Cup. RYAN BERTRAND, whose leg injury prevented him from being considered for tonight’s game against Russia, has agreed to become yet another addition to the England Nike stable, which now consists of 20 out of the 23-strong squad in France.