FA CHIEFS ARE IN THE FIRING LINE OVER SAMPSON
‘They’ve failed on child abuse, Allardyce and now Sampson.. FA never learn and are not fit for purpose’
MARTIN GLENN was under mounting pressure last night with questions raised about his position.
Football Association chief executive Glenn is under the spotlight amid the scandal surrounding Mark Sampson being sacked as England women’s manager.
MP Damian Collins (right, top), who chairs the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, claimed the FA’s set-up is “flawed” and called for a new enquiry about their handling of the whole Sampson affair.
Glenn (right) is understood to retain the support of the FA board but will face difficult questions from MPs next month as part of an ongoing parliamentary enquiry.
Several players are believed to have voiced concerns about Sampson and his behaviour. But Glenn admitted that the FA twice missed opportunities to act on a “safeguarding” report surrounding Sampson’s behaviour while in charge of the Bristol academy, where he is accused of having an “inappropriate” relationship with players.
The original FA investigation into Sampson’s behaviour at Bristol was made in 2014, before Glenn was appointed.
Glennn has admitted he was subsequently made aware of it, but he only acted upon it after an anonymous tipoff last week, urging the FA to look again.
That comes on top of allegations of racism and bullying made against Sampson by England international Eni Aluko which were investigated twice before he was cleared by the FA before a parliamentary inquiry was launched into the affair. Collins said: “They were always in possession of info which, by their own admission, meant Sampson should never have been in that position. “The FA didn’t ask questions at the time. I don’t understand how he was appointed to the job at the time.
“They did not ask questions even when their current chief exec was made aware of the report years ago. “And then when the new allegations emerged they didn’t go back and look again at the previous investigation on Sampson’s behaviour.
“None of it makes sense and it reflects very poorly on the governance and standards at the FA.”
Collins believes the scandal raises serious questions about Glenn and the FA, especially after the recent child abuse scandal and Sam Allardyce being sacked.
Collins added: “We’re going to hold an evidence session of the committee next month with Eni Aluko, discussing her allegations and concerns.
“I hope Martin Glenn and other senior people from the FA will be here not just to answer questions on that but also these important questions of who knew what and when, considering Mark Sampson’s position.
“Clearly, by the FA’s own admission, after seeing the full report based on the previous investigation he wasn’t fit to do the job, he wasn’t someone who should ever have been appointed.
“Many people will see this alongside other issues, child abuse in football, appointment of Sam Allardyce and say, ‘They don’t seem to learn’.”
The FA declined to comment further yesterday.