United urged to ‘fess up’ over Sawhney questions
Manchester United were last night denounced for their “opaque and dismissive” response to the sacking of a board member from one of the biggest jobs in world sport following serious accusations about his conduct.
The club were under mounting pressure from a leading MP to “fess up” over how thoroughly they had looked into the circumstances behind Manu Sawhney’s departure from the International Cricket Council this summer and from his two previous jobs.
Sawhney was fired as ICC chief executive after a cultural review found he bullied colleagues and exhibited acts of “physical aggression”, affecting the “health and wellbeing” of staff. He resigned from his previous job at Singapore Sports Hub following a complaint about him which included similar allegations about his time there and previously at ESPN Star Sports – albeit one found to warrant no further action.
The Daily Telegraph spoke to former ICC colleagues who accused him of having left staff in tears and needing therapy for ongoing mental health problems triggered by his behaviour. One branded him “a complete narcissistic bully”.
They also said he was unfit to be in a senior role anywhere and that United had a duty to their staff and shareholders to get to the bottom of the accusations against their longstanding director, who vehemently denies any wrongdoing.
The club refused to answer questions from The Telegraph about their handling of the Indian’s departure from his last three jobs.
Julian Knight MP, the chairman of the Digital, Culture, Media and
Sport select committee, compared United’s “attitude” to that which led to them joining the doomed Super League this year.
“This opaque and dismissive attitude from Manchester United is yet another indication of a club which has quite serious issues and understandably has concerned its fanbase for a long time,” he said. “And because of its premier position in English football, this actually interests everyone involved in the game.
“If a leading national newspaper has an investigation concerning a board member and comes to you with questions, I’d expect that you would fess up and engage.”
United’s sponsors, including kit manufacturer Adidas, declined to comment last night on whether they were comfortable with Sawhney remaining a director, or with the club’s response to questioning about it. But Knight said: “Having someone at such a senior level at what is one of the biggest football clubs in the world and the biggest club in England with these allegations ongoing is deeply concerning.”
Citing their previous involvement as a Super League founder member, he added: “You have to ask, where is Manchester United going at present? To have a marquee name in English football seemingly at such a low ebb as far as public perception goes is itself a real warning sign.”