FA diversity chief to leave over bullying

ThE England team’s diversity adviser Edleen John is set to leave her role as one of the FA’s most senior executives following a damning investigation into claims she bullied colleagues.

Four months before the World Cup, the FA director — who has played a lead role in advising gareth Southgate’s side on how they could take a stand against human rights issues in Qatar — is believed to be leaving following a two-month inquiry and subsequent hearing. The FA have declined to comment but news of John’s departure is expected to be confirmed in the coming days. The Cambridge graduate has now removed her association with the FA from her personal Twitter page.

The bombshell development comes after our exclusive revelations on March 10 that John (below) was the subject of a written complaint from an FA employee, who accused the official of intimidation, using aggressive tactics and malicious behaviour.

John was appointed to the FA’s senior management team as copartner for equality, diversity and inclusion in September

2020. We disclosed last month that, following an internal investigation, the FA sanctioned a full hearing into John’s conduct. The tribunal was led by senior FA board member Sue hough, who is understood to have worked closely with an employment lawyer during the process. Sportsmail has learned that the hearing’s recommendation is that John, who earns a significant salary, should no longer continue at the FA. She has been told and her exit will be formalised in due course.

With regards to the bullying claim, the complainant did not want the correspondence to be treated as a formal grievance. But the FA decided to investigate and received at least three more similar complaints from colleagues. Sportsmail has also been made aware of at least four separate grievances linked to John’s behaviour away from the FA inquiry — three of which are from groups with connections to English football.

Prior to the investigation, it is understood the FA offered John the opportunity to take paid leave while enquires were being carried out. She refused.

In a statement released to Sportsmail at the time, John described herself as an ‘activist’ who is ‘ direct’ in her communication style but insisted she did not mean to intimidate anyone.

She was key in delivering the FA’s football diversity leadership code in addition to a host of projects with the focus on tackling social issues.