Woodgate will not be involved against Italy on Wednesday after Eriksson, his assistant Tord Grip and Football Association chief executive Adam Crozier decided it would have been too soon in the wake of the defender's conviction for affray.

"Jonathan Woodgate has served his punishment and, normally, that would have been enough," Eriksson told BBC Radio 5 Live.

But he added: "At the same time, there are certain rules for fans as we are trying to make the image of British football better abroad. It should be the same for players."

But Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale believes the defender should have been available for selection.

Woodgate recently completed a 100-hour community service sentence.

"I got a phone call last night from Adam Crozier informing me that he and Sven both agreed it was too early to recall Jonathan, and I have to respect that," Ridsdale told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"I said to Adam that if he (Woodgate) is not in the team because he is not good enough then I respect that, but if this is a further ban because of what happened then I disagreed. It is a wrong decision.

"Jonathan has had a two-and-a-quarter-year ban already. He has been through the courts and had a punishment which he has now served.

"I think like anybody else in this country, if you have served a punishment then you should be free to pursue your job, and his job is playing football.

"I believe Jonathan is playing well enough to be picked. I think he is among the top centre-halves in the country, but I don't pick the team - Sven does."