FA has ‘lost trust of public’ admits under-fire chairman

Football Association chairman Greg Clarke has admitted England’s governing body has “lostthetrustofthepublic”and promised a “top to bottom” cultural review of the English national football centre at St George’s Park.

Clarke’s frank assessment came in a speech to the FA council’s autumn meeting at Wembley. The chairman described last week’s appearance before the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee as “a bruising personal experience and the culmination of a very damaging episode for the organisation”.

Clarke, FA chief executive Martin Glenn, technical director Dan Ashworth and human resources boss Rachel Brace were invited to appear before the DCMS panel to explain the FA’S handling of the allegations of bullying and racism made by striker Eni Aluko against former England women’s team manager Mark Sampson.

Clarke repeated the apology the FA made to Aluko and her team-matesliannesanderson and Drew Spence, all of whom have aired grievances against Sampson, who was eventually sacked last month for what the FA judged was inappropriate behaviour in his previous job at Bristol Academy. Clarke then described the reaction to last Wednesday’s hearing, saying: “I believe it is because we have lost the trust of the public and I think this lack of trust is underpinned by three characteristics.”

These characteristics, he explained, are the FA’S huge remit and a perception it lacks competence, a lack of diversity throughout the organisation and a failure to properly utilise the experience and skills of senior players and managers.