The agent of Gareth Southgate, who invested the England manager's money without his consent to fund a disastrous £25m property deal, is suing the FA for millions over how his deal ended the players' business.

• Mail Sport has revealed that Terry Byrne owes money to Southgate and others
• He used the English manager's money without his consent to finance a property deal
• Why it's never okay to cheer in the press box (even if England win the World Cup!) – listen here Everything takes off!

Gareth Southgate's agent has sued the FA for millions of pounds over a long-running dispute relating to the commercial deals of England's top stars.

Mail Sport revealed on Monday that Terry Byrne owes money to Southgate, Joe Cole and Glenn Hoddle after using fees received by his company 10Ten for their commercial work to help finance a £25m property deal without their permission.

In a separate development that could also upset the England manager, Mail Sport has learned that Bayern are embroiled in a legal dispute with Southgate's employers.

Byrne is understood to claim that the FA breached its contract with another of its subsidiary, 1966 Entertainment, by terminating a deal involving English players' commercial appearances which was due to run until 2030.

Byrne accused the FA of “harmful interference” with the long-term contract Entertainment entered into with England players in 1966, which was originally negotiated by then-captain David Beckham on behalf of the team in 2006 and later extended.

The FA first sought an early exit from the deal in 2018, but were unable to agree severance terms with Byrne and subsequently canceled the contract, even banning Byrne and his staff from visiting England players at St George's Park.

The FA still hopes to resolve the issue without the scrutiny of a high-profile court case, but Byrne is demanding millions in compensation and is understood to be in no mood to settle.

An initial arbitration hearing has been set for December 12, but if an agreement is not reached, the case will go to court.

The FA's annoyance has been compounded by the fact that Byrne has also represented Southgate since 2016, although the manager may cut ties with the agent following Mail Sport's revelations about the missing funds.

While the pair remain on good terms, Southgate is seeking a significant fee, and FA sources expect Southgate to use a different agent next year when his contract is up for renegotiation.

The FA's decision to sever ties with Bayern and 1966 was made following the appointment of Mark Bullingham as Wembley's chief commercial officer in 2016, a position he left three years later to become chief executive.

The FA sent notice in 1966 before the 2018 World Cup, and the dispute has continued ever since.

The English Football Association and Bayern declined to comment.

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