Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘Cover-up’ inquiry on FA official
CROSS
THE FA has launched an investigation into allegations of serious misconduct by its vice-chair of the Women’s Committee.
Elaine Oram is accused of being part of an alleged cover-up during an FA inquiry into an assault charge against football coach Anthony Spencer.
Oram is one of the highest-ranked women officials in the organisation.
It is alleged she failed to intervene and stop her head of discipline at the Nottinghamshire FA,
Ezekiel Teya, from continuing to mislead an appeal panel over a period of several months and at a hearing last week.
Spencer was charged in September following an altercation with youths and given until October 1 to respond. But it emerged Notts FA heard his case on September 29, before he had a chance to respond.
His club, Nottingham FC, complained to the FA in the first week of October. Teya allegedly told them in an email that the hearing was on October 2. When ordered to produce documents to prove that, he allegedly said relevant emails had been deleted.
Notts FA then sent a written submission admitting the hearing was in September.
Further investigations revealed Teya allegedly misled the panel a number of times about the date of the hearing, while Oram was allegedly aware since before Christmas that the information being provided was false - but failed to act.
Spencer won his appeal and the panel ordered an investigation into the conduct of Oram and Teya. Oram said: “I refute any wrong doing on my part.” The FA said: “We can confirm we are investigating a matter involving the Nottinghamshire FA.”