Mark Sampson: England women's football coach cleared of making 'racial and prejudicial' remark to a player
The alleged comments emerged in a bullying and harassment case raised by striker Eniola Aluko
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Your support makes all the difference.England women’s coach Mark Sampson was accused of making remarks with “derogatory, racial and prejudicial connotations” to one of his players, it has emerged.
Sampson was cleared of the allegations following an internal investigation by the FA but the governing body has since faced questions as to why it paid so-called “hush money” to striker Eniola Aluko.
The alleged comments came to light following a bullying and harassment claim made by the England and Chelsea forward – but were said to be directed towards another unnamed player.
In her evidence to the FA, revealed by the BBC, Aluko said: "During a meeting, at which I was not present, MS [Sampson] used an analogy about pressing hard in midfield and getting a caution like a police caution.
"MS then addressed the player individually and said in relation to being cautioned by police: 'Haven't you been arrested before? Four times isn't it?'"
Aluko, who is also a qualified lawyer, added: "This comment about the player was made with derogatory, racial and prejudicial connotations.
“It was also a defamatory, untrue statement given that the player has never been arrested and MS's comment indicates an assumption (subconscious or conscious) that being mixed race from London suggests a criminal record with the police.”
Aluko was not present at the meeting but claimed other players did not take the alleged comments as a joke and there was an “awkward atmosphere” among the squad.
She added: "I was deeply concerned and felt it was highly inappropriate for the national team coach to make such a sweeping negative generalisation about a new player in the team."
Aluko - who has been capped 102 times and was the Women’s Super League top scorer last season - has not been picked for England since her complaints were raised in May 2016 but does remain a centrally-contracted player.
"As a black female in the team, understanding the unfavourable, racial and social connotations underlying MS's comment further heightened my feelings of fear and isolation, especially in light of the previous instances where I have been negatively singled out, too,” she added.
The 30-year-old had alleged that she was called "lazy as f**k" and suffered “bullying and harassment” in the England set-up.
Sampson was cleared of any wrongdoing but Aluko was reportedly paid an £80,000 fee to sign an agreement which her lawyers claimed was to prevent her talking about the case.
However, the FA says that was to "avoid disruptions" to England's preparations for the recent European Championships in the Netherlands and that Aluko is now free to talk about it, according to the Guardian.
In a statement, the FA said: “The FA can confirm an independent investigation found no wrong-doing in respect of a grievance raised by Eniola Aluko in 2016.
“Following an internal review into allegations raised by Eniola Aluko last year, the FA commissioned an independent investigation conducted by a barrister, Katharine Newton, from Old Square Chambers. Ms Newton is an expert on employment and discrimination law.
“The detailed independent investigation report did not uphold any of Eniola Aluko’s complaints and found no wrong-doing on behalf of the FA or others. The report recommended that a more detailed response to Eniola Aluko’s original complaints should be made and so the FA commissioned Ms Newton to write to Eniola Aluko to provide such a response, in order to ensure complete transparency and objectivity of the findings.”
It added: “Eniola Aluko remains a centrally contracted player. A complaint was made in 2016 and Eniola Aluko is not precluded from speaking about the facts of that complaint.
“Notwithstanding the independent investigation’s findings, the FA agreed a mutual resolution so as to avoid disruption to the squad’s [Euro 2017] tournament preparations. It was not to prevent disclosure.”
Sampson has not commented on the case.