Solskjaer row: Clubs told to act if player charged with sex crime
MPs and campaigners last night called for football clubs to commit to suspending players charged with serious sexual offences following the escalating rape scandal to have engulfed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
In an exclusive interview with The
Daily Telegraph yesterday, a woman who says she was raped by one of Solskjaer’s former players, when he was the manager of Molde, in Norway, condemned him for fielding the now-fugitive midfielder accused of attacking four women, claiming it made him unfit to lead Manchester United.
Teams were yesterday coming under increasing pressure to adopt “a zerotolerance” approach to such crimes.
Clubs are not under any obligation to omit a player who has been charged with a serious sexual offence – or indeed any offence – from their matchday squads until his case is resolved and there have been several examples of them failing to do so. That is despite it being common practice for employers in other industries to suspend those under investigation for similar crimes.
The player at the centre of the row, Babacar Sarr, denies all accusations.
The new chair of the parliamentary Women and Equalities Committee, Caroline Nokes MP, told The Sunday
Telegraph: “Where there is a criminal charge made then I would question whether any such player should be fielded by the team or whether suspension is the solution until such time as proceedings are concluded.
“Football players, whether they like it or not, are seen as role models and figures that young people – but young men, in particular – look up to and aspire to be like.”
Katie Russell, spokesperson for Rape Crisis England and Wales, said: “To fail to act robustly and decisively when an employee is accused of sexual offences sends a clear message that sexual violence and abuse are not recognised as serious by the employer. Football in general has a poor track record and reputation on dealing robustly with sexual violence and with violence against women and girls more widely.
“Given the almost unique position of power and influence football holds in society, it has the real opportunity to take a strong lead on combating sexism and misogyny by calling out and loudly and clearly rejecting the old-fashioned macho culture that has traditionally surrounded the game.”
The Telegraph approached all 20 Premier League clubs yesterday over whether it was their policy to suspend employees – including players – charged with serious sexual offences.
Of the responses received, none said suspension was mandatory, but some confirmed it was one of several possible options.
Dan Chapman, a solicitor and agent at Full Contact Law, said there was no legal barrier to a club adopting such a policy as standard.
Meanwhile, the Norwegian woman allegedly raped by Sarr reacted yesterday to the United manager’s comments expressing sympathy for those caught up in the case. “From the very start of this case, I’ve been witnessing the club and Solskjaer showing sympathy only for themselves and Sarr. Never about any victim,” she said.
“So I don’t think that he’s talking about any victim when he says that, I’m afraid.”