Sampson: My regret at racism

FORMER England coach Mark Sampson has revealed his “regret” at racist comments he made while in charge of the Lionesses.

Sampson was forced to apologise after he was found – following three investigations – to have made discriminatory comments to players Eniola Aluko and Drew Spence.

He told The Beautiful Game podcast: “I look back at it with huge regret.

“You try your best, your intentions are good and sometimes you get that wrong and as a result now I’ve had a chance to look back, reflect and if I’m honest, learn things I would never have learned.

“I would never have put myself in the situation to ask the questions I’ve had to ask of myself. I wasn’t the person and man I wanted to be then and sometimes you have to go through those tough experiences to get where you want to get.”

Sampson had told Aluko to ensure her Nigerian relatives did not bring the Ebola virus to London ahead of England’s friendly against Germany in 2014.

Spence complained that Sampson asked whether she had been arrested.

Sampson, 37, now assistant manager at Stevenage, was sacked from the England job in 2017 for an unrelated issue before receiving a settlement following an unfair dismissal claim.