England are the “laughing stock of world football” following manager Sam Allardyce’s departure after only 67 days, says former captain Alan Shearer.
It follows a newspaper investigation claiming Allardyce offered advice on how to “get around” rules on transfers.
“I’m angry, I’m sad, I’m staggered at the misjudgement from a guy who said this was his dream job,” the ex-England striker told BBC Radio 5 live.
Allardyce has apologised, adding he was “deeply disappointed” to lose his job.
Allardyce replaced former manager Roy Hodgson after England were knocked out of Euro 2016 at the last-16 stage by minnows Iceland.
Shearer, who scored 30 goals in 63 caps, said: “It’s incredible and a catastrophic misjudgement by Sam and his advisers. I’m angry at the whole situation.
“I didn’t think England could stoop any lower from what happened in the summer at the Euros. Now here we are, a laughing stock of world football.
“It looks a poisoned chalice. All those managers that have left for right or wrong reasons. It’s a very, very difficult job – some would say the impossible job.”
Another former England captain, Rio Ferdinand, told BT Sport: “The England role has become comical.
“This was a man who was passionate about getting the job. He forced the FA to act. Naivety seems to be the word coming up. It’s disappointing for English football.”
Former Wales midfielder Robbie Savage added: “I’ve got a little bit of sympathy for him, but he gave the FA no choice.
“England are a bit of shambles. First the Euros, now this. He will be devastated.”
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- Football Daily podcast: ‘Distraught’ Allardyce leaves England job
More reaction – ‘The optimism has been pulled from under us’
Former England manager Glenn Hoddle speaking to BT Sport: “They’ve come to that agreement pretty quickly and I think that’s what was needed in some ways.
“We come out of the Euros on a real low and Sam was given the job. And you think, ‘right, everyone’s got to pull together, look forward and go forward’.
“That’s been pulled from under ourselves and we’ve got to pick ourselves up.”
Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp told BT Sport: “It’s a sad day, sad for Sam as well. I’m sorry for what’s happened.
“It’s probably a lifetime dream of his to be England manager, and to end so quickly is unbelievable really.”
Former FA chairman Greg Dyke: “I think the FA has taken the right decision.
“This guy was being paid more than £3m a year – why was he running around after £400,000? We did not have that sort of problem with Roy Hodgson – I think he was straight as a die.
“There were lots of corrupt practices at Fifa which they did nothing about. When the FA discovered this they acted quickly.
Former England defender Danny Mills: “It does not really surprise me what Sam Allardyce said. I am surprised however at how naive Sam Allardyce was after so long in the job. I don’t think fans will be annoyed that he is explaining how to get around rules, I think it is more that he was chasing money around the world when the focus should have been on the England job.”
The Times chief football writer Henry Winter: “We all have to take responsibility for our own careers and for Allardyce – as a 61-year-old guy who is an experienced individual in football – the alarm bells should have been ringing. The FA have laid off some of the people who would have briefed England managers about the lurking dangers.
“It is important that (FA chief executive) Martin Glenn – who has been in charge of major corporations – to name and shame and send the message that they have to get their noses out of the trough.”
Daily Telegraph chief football writer Sam Wallace: “The chief public face of the FA is running the England team, but they still remain the moral arbiter in the sport. You never know what is going to get thrown at the FA – be it racist or homophobic tweets, Luis Suarez biting case – and they have to be whiter and whiter.
Independent chief sportswriter Ian Herbert: “The sums of money and avarice of it all is sickening. You look at the gulf in class between some of the top managers in the Premier League – the likes of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp – and the sheer bare-faced grubbiness to it is just shocking.”
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