Anger as Taylor is made FA VIP
Lavish Wembley lunches despite ‘dragging feet’ on scandal
Gordon Taylor — the outgoing PFa boss accused of neglecting football’s dementia crisis — will soon enjoy the perks of retirement after being awarded fellowship rights of the Fa, Sportsmail can reveal. It means that as a minimum the 75-year-old will receive two tickets to every England and Fa game held at Wembley Stadium, along with pre-match hospitality, where he could cross paths with former footballers whose families feel he has let them down. ‘I’m astounded,’ said the relative of a former England footballer now suffering from dementia. ‘The PFa have dragged their feet on this issue, making families almost beg
for help. The FA are now tarred with the same brush.’
The relative, who wishes to remain anonymous, added: ‘The perks mean he may meet families of ex-players who are invited to matches at Wembley. It’s all insensitive and ill-thought-out.’
Taylor, the chief executive who will stand down from the union at the end of this season, was elected to fellowship status by the Professional Game Board.
Sportsmail understands that has taken FA Council members by surprise. Fellowship is open to former council members who served a minimum of nine years. There are three tiers of membership, depending on the level of service. Even
‘The FA are now tarred with the same brush. It’s so insensitive’
the minimum reward sees the recipient enjoy lavish days out at Wembley.
The decision follows anger over Brian Jones — the former FA Council member who resigned last year after posting an Islamophobic message on social media — being granted the same rights. That proposal came from the National Game Board.
The FA Board and chief executive Mark Bullingham opposed restoring Jones’s privileges, and a bitter row last week led to the resignation of FA Board member Stacey Cartwright, as revealed by Sportsmail.
It was confirmed last month that Taylor would finally be standing down as chief executive of the PFA, two years after first announcing his intention to do so. That was announced a week after Sportsmail launched its campaign to tackle dementia in football.