Equality and Human Rights Commission warns FA it risks losing public confidence

Martin Glenn - Equality and Human Rights Commission warns FA it risks losing public confidence
FA chief executive Martin Glenn Credit: Getty Images

The Football Association was on Thursday warned by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) that it risks losing public confidence if it does not urgently demonstrate that it has an open, transparent and non-discriminatory culture.

The national governing body was plunged into crisis on Wednesday after a third enquiry found former England women’s manager Mark Sampson guilty of racially discriminatory remarks to Eni Aluko and Drew Spence. In dramatic testimony to a parliamentary hearing, Aluko accused FA chief executive Martin Glenn of behaviour that was “bordering on blackmail”, chairman Greg Clarke of “disrespectfully dismissing” her complaint about Sampson, and technical director Dan Ashworth of ignoring her attempts to contact him.

Aluko also claimed a black actress had been hired to demonstrate “bad behaviour” to the England squad after she had been dropped by Sampson, who is himself now considering a claim of wrongful dismissal against the FA after he was subsequently sacked over a previous “inappropriate” relationship with a female player at the Bristol Academy.

Sports minister Tracey Crouch on Thursday underlined that the government expects “leading standards of governance from all our national sports governing bodies” and the EHRC, which is the country’s national equality body, has now issued its own warning to the FA. 

“Football is lauded as ‘the beautiful game’ but it risks being turned ugly with allegations of discrimination, racism and bullying at its core,” said Alastair Pringle, the executive director at the EHRC. “If players of all races, religions and backgrounds do not feel supported and protected then football cannot be considered a sport for all.  The FA risks losing public confidence if it does not eradicate discrimination and forge an open and transparent culture to demonstrate that athletes’ well-being is prioritised.”

Aluko said that Sampson had told her to make sure her Nigerian relatives did not bring the Ebola virus to the friendly against Germany in Nov 2014.

Sampson denied that claim, as well as another allegation that he asked Spence if she had been arrested before jokingly suggesting that she had been arrested four times.

Newton's initial report had cleared Sampson but did not interview key witnesses. New evidence led to the investigation being resumed and, in a report published on Thursday, Newton wrote: “I have concluded that on two separate occasions, MS (Sampson) has made ill-judged attempts at humour, which, as a matter of law, were discriminatory on the grounds of race within the meaning of the Equality Act 2010. However that is not the same as concluding that MS is racist. In fact, I consider it fundamentally important to emphasise that I have not concluded that MS is a racist.

“However, given my findings in respect of these two comments, I have re-considered each and every conclusion reached in my First Report in order to determine whether or not that should remain. Having done so, I conclude that they should. The fact that MS made these comments does not necessarily mean that he also subjected EA (Aluko) to a course of bullying and discriminatory conduct in respect of other matters.”

License this content