‘IT BORDERED ON BLACKMAIL’
let down whistleblower Aluko. They refused to say that they would honour a full £80,000 payout agreed with her and described the idea of ‘institutional racism’ at the FA as ‘fluff’.
Collins, whose select committee also grilled FA technical director Dan Ashworth and HR director Rachel Brace, said: ‘You have to question whether they are the right people to take the organisation forward. I think they need to look very carefully at the evidence that has been given today.’
Committee member Jo Stevens MP told Clarke: ‘I’ve never heard such shambolic evidence about the governance of an organisation.’
Although Clarke apologised for his dismissive ‘fluff ’ comment, MPs were astonished.
‘It was an extraordinary thing to say,’ added Collins. ‘He retracted it [but] it was such an extraordinary word to use about such serious matters.’
Clarke did apologise to Aluko and shook her hand after MPs’ questioning had finished — but only after he had been encouraged to do so by Collins, who told him: ‘She’s behind you.’
The FA’s lack of contrition was shocking, coming hours after a report in which barrister Katharine Newton concluded that Sampson, sacked last month, had twice made racially prejudiced jokes. She found, however, that he was ‘not a racist’.
The former England boss had told Aluko’s Chelsea team-mate Drew Spence, who is of mixed race, that she had been ‘arrested four times’ as players gathered for a team meeting in 2015.
He also suggested to Aluko that her visiting Nigerian relatives should not attend a match in case they had contracted the Ebola virus, Newton found.
Aluko intended to take the FA to an industrial triburibunal, after concluding ng that the governingg body was not taking her complaints against Sampson seriously. Glenn then sanctioned the £80,000 settlement, to be paid in twoo instalments to ensure re that the player did not say anything derogatory atory about the FA while working as a Channel 4 analyst at last summer’s European Championships.
The second payment was withheld after Aluko sent out a negative tweet about the FA in August, stating: ‘At least we now know the FA’s stance on derogatory racial remarks by an England manager. Ignore, deny, endorse. In that order.’
Glenn was asked three times by MPs if she would now be paid but he refused to guarantee it.
Collins said: ‘I’m staggered that the issue still remains over money. I hope that is something they resolve very quickly. I find it [the lack of apology] extraordinary. I think he [Glenn] should have apologised for what were clear failings.’
But Clarke hit back at the FA’s critics, insisting that the governing body could only be faulted for taking too long to investigate Aluko’s claims.
His bizarre testimony included him claiming that the Professional Footballers’ Association — which has represented Aluko — has refused to continue funding counselling sessions for a victim of abuse, while paying ‘millions’ in salary to its own boss Gordon Taylor. Clarke said: ‘I met a number of safeguarding survivors. One told me: ‘‘The PFA won’t pay for counselling’’.’
Taylor last night hit back, insisting: ‘To say we turned an abused player away is wrong. We’ve never turned anybody away, whether with problems of abuse, gambling or addiction. It might have been said in Parliament, but it’s blatantly untrue. Why on earth could he [Clarke] not raise it with me. It’s classic diversionary tactics.’
Former England striker Ian Wright said that while he would ‘jump at the chance’ to be involved in an anti-discrimination committee, he could not work for the FA in its present form.
He told BBC 5 Live: ‘No way on this earth am I going into this FA under the current climate. I’ll get accused of being an Uncle Tom, I’ll be the black guy they’ve put up. “Ian likes this”. I’d listen to them but I’d need to hear the right things. I’m not going in there to whitewash anything. If I don’t feel anything’s right, I’m going public. Bang. Then people say, “Ian Wright, he’s a troublemaker”.’