SAMPSON CHARGE DISMISSED

AN FA charge of using racist language against Stevenage coach Mark Sampson was last night found not proven. Following a four-month investigation and two-day hearing earlier this month, an independent regulatory commission were unable to find sufficient evidence ‘on the balance of probabilities’ that former England women’s manager Sampson made racist comments at a Stevenage transfer meeting. The complaint was made by former manager Dino Maamria, who is now in charge at Oldham, and his then goalkeeping coach Ali Uzunhasanoglu. Sampson denied the allegations and fitness coach Jon Ashton and analyst Rob Smith, who were also present at the meeting, insisted they had no recollection of hearing the comment. Sampson labelled the claims fabricated and insisted people had an ‘axe to grind’ after he became caretaker when Maamria was sacked. Indeed, Maamria described himself as ‘annoyed and disappointed’ with Sampson as he expected his staff to go with him. It is the second time Sampson has found himself at the centre of a race storm after allegations from Eni Aluko and England team-mate Drew Spence. He was cleared of those too after two FA investigations. But he and the governing body were forced to apologise following a third investigation when it was ruled that ‘on the balance of probabilities’ Sampson had made discriminatory comments.