Summary

  • FA bosses faced parliamentary inquiry over racism allegations

  • Eniola Aluko has accused ex-England boss Mark Sampson of discrimination

  • FA apologises over remarks to Aluko & Drew Spence

  1. Postpublished at 18:49 British Summer Time 18 October 2017

    And that concludes our coverage of the hearing.

    For a full breakdown on what was said, head here.

  2. Postpublished at 18:40 British Summer Time 18 October 2017

    And here are some of the key clips:

    Media caption,

    FA chief's request 'bordering on blackmail' - Aluko

    Media caption,

    I still couldn't tell you what the FA grievance process is

    Media caption,

    I didn't expect it to be Eni Aluko versus the FA

  3. Hearing summarypublished at 18:35 British Summer Time 18 October 2017

    • The FA apologises Eni Aluko and Drew Spence after new evidence shows sacked England's women's boss Mark Sampson made remarks which were "discriminatory on the grounds of race".
    • Aluko said she had not received payment of an £80,000 settlement fee in full from the FA.
    • Aluko accuses the FA of actions "bordering on blackmail", in relation to complaints about bullying and harassment.
    • The Chelsea striker says she had felt "isolated" during the case and says there had been "an agenda to protect Sampson and an agenda to protect the FA's reputation".
    • FA chief exec Martin Glenn says Sampson is considering filing a claim for wrongful dismissal.
  4. Postpublished at 18:28 British Summer Time 18 October 2017

    And with that, the hearing comes to an end.

    Right, I'll pick through the last four hours and provide you with the key points.

  5. Postpublished at 18:24 British Summer Time 18 October 2017

    The FA execs are questioned about a female linked with Leeds United asking for support with regards to discrimination...

    Greg Clarke: "It sounds outrageous. I will find out what is going on."

    To fail to act over two discrimination cases is careless, Clarke is told.

    Clarke: "Is there sexism in football? Absolutely. Do we have the powers to deal with it? We don't have the power in the FA to overcome statute. I need to give you a reasonable response on our powers and what we could do. Us interfering with legal issues is really hard."

    .Image source, Getty Images
  6. Sampson considering wrongful dismissal claimpublished at 18:18 British Summer Time 18 October 2017

    Has Mark Sampson received a pay-off?

    Martin Glenn: There is a payment related to his contract, but it is not a 'pay-off' as such.

    Rachel Brace: It was in line with his contract. It was nine months' salary.

    Glenn: We've been informed by his (Mark Sampson's) solicitor that he's considering filing a claim for wrongful dismissal.

  7. 'Go on intentions'published at 18:12 British Summer Time 18 October 2017

    Martin Glenn is asked how satisfied he is with the process:

    "I'm trying to inject a sense of balance. We don't only exist to run internal grievance processes. Do I believe the spirit and intent of the people leading the investigation was right? Yes. No-one forced us to get in a separate independent barrister. That factor should be weighed in.

    "I think you've got to be proportionate about the nature of the mistakes.

    "We're open to learning. We're working with UK Sport to deal with what is clearly an issue in elite sport. Grievance processes that may work for a general organisation aren't fit for purpose in elite sport.

    "I would go intentions."

  8. Hearing key points so farpublished at 18:12 British Summer Time 18 October 2017

    We are three-and-a-half hours into this hearing and these are the key points so far.

    • Eni Aluko says she refused to put out a statement saying the FA was not "institutionally racist" in order to receive part of a settlement fee.
    • FA chief exect Martin Glenn retracts comments suggesting the barrister who conducted the FA's inquiry was chosen based on her ethnicity.
    • Aluko says there has been "an agenda to protect Mark Sampson and an agenda to protect the FA's reputation".
    • Feels "vindicated and relieved" that an investigation concludes Sampson made remarks which were "discriminatory on grounds of race".
    • The Nigeria-born striker accused England goalkeeping coach Lee Kendall of speaking to her in a fake Caribbean accent.
  9. Postpublished at 18:10 British Summer Time 18 October 2017

    Martin Glenn is asked whether the FA failed in its duty of care:

    "There have clearly been failings. I wouldn't want to then say the organisation is failing. Clearly in this situation there have been failings.

    We have 900 members of staff. On balance I think we do a good job.

    .Image source, Getty Images
  10. Postpublished at 18:09 British Summer Time 18 October 2017

    FA chairman Greg Clarke is criticised for referring to institutional racism as "fluff". He quickly apologies after being chastised by the committee.

    "What has established, putting aside all the fluff about, you know, institutional racism, no institutional bullying," he says.

    The fact you describe it as fluff speaks volumes," says Julie Elliott MP. "Language matters."

    "I accept your point and what I was trying to say, maybe badly, is I could get distracted by the irrelevant," Clarke adds. "I shouldn't have said fluff. I could have come in and said, well Katharine Newton said there's no evidence of systemic bullying, there's no evidence of systemic racism.

    "But that's not the issue, that's why I mis-characterised it as fluff. I didn't want to talk about that, what I wanted to talk about was the material issue and I apologise for phrasing it badly. The material issue is twice an England player with 100 caps was exposed to a situation where racist abuse happened. That is a fundamental breach of our duty of care for that person and I feel very bad about that."

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  11. Postpublished at 18:02 British Summer Time 18 October 2017

    On Eni Aluko being dropped from the England squad.

    Dan Ashworth: "The head coach picks the team, not me. The head coaches would pick the team on a variety of issues.

    "Who he or she thinks will do the best job for that team going forward. He had been disappointed with recent performances and he dropped a few senior players, including Eni Aluko."

    But how can somebody, that successful, be dropped directly after giving evidence. That can't be a coincidence?

    Dan Ashworth: "What I would say is Mark would have picked the team on form. Knowing the facts that I do, no it does not seem a coincidence. To the outside world? Yes."

  12. Postpublished at 17:53 British Summer Time 18 October 2017

    Richard Conway
    BBC Radio 5 live sports news correspondent

    FA HR director Rachel Brace proving an effective shield in these proceedings for Clarke, Glenn and Ashworth.

  13. Postpublished at 17:47 British Summer Time 18 October 2017

    Julie Elliott MP asks Martin Glenn if he accepts the FA has failed in its duty of care to players.

    "We have clearly made mistakes," he replies.

    "You can't say you have failed in your duty of care. I think that speaks volumes," says Elliott.

  14. Postpublished at 17:41 British Summer Time 18 October 2017

    You say 'overwhelming duty of care to victims' - Eni Aluko has been one. Has your organisation given an adequate duty of care?

    Greg Clarke: "No. The material issue is that twice, an England player with over 100 caps, was exposed to situations where racial discrimination was used and I feel very bad about that. We have to apologise. We now have facts that our board needs to be aware of and they need to actively consider the decision to pay as part of our duty of care to her."

    Julie Elliott MP then states she feels that Aluko must be paid.

  15. 'As a safeguarding risk he was investigated and cleared'published at 17:31 British Summer Time 18 October 2017

    Martin Glenn: "Safeguarding rules are universal, they are based on law. The job of the safeguarding team is to judge whether someone poses a risk as a football participant.

    "What I am sure about is that as a safeguarding risk he was investigated and cleared. As a conduct issue, we judged his conduct was inappropriate."

    Asked about the FA's safeguarding code of practice:

    "The problem was the issue was seen in its narrowest form, as a safeguarding issue, not in its wider form. We now do that differently. We've got different people who can take a wider holistic view."

  16. Postpublished at 17:25 British Summer Time 18 October 2017

    Dan Ashworth says he was aware of the "outline of the allegations" against Mark Sampson, but not the full detail.

    "I wasn't shown a report," he says. "I was given an update through the process of the investigation.

    "I was told when the panel was concluded and was told there was no risk in his role. I wasn't aware of any detail. They said he would pose no risk in his current role.

    It seems odd you could be reassured without having been given knowledge?

    Ashworth: "Of course if I had my time again I would have asked for more detail. At the time, I didn't ask for it and wasn't given any.

    "I went off the recommendation of the panel."

  17. 'Due diligence didn't happen then'published at 17:21 British Summer Time 18 October 2017

    On Mark Sampson hiring as England manager in 2013...

    Greg Clarke: "What should have happened was a process of due diligence - which does happen now - but did not happen then.

  18. 'We are doing things differently now'published at 17:17 British Summer Time 18 October 2017

    Martin Glenn is asked why it took so long to read the safeguarding report that led to Sampson's dismissal: The report was written in March 2015. The report was a safeguarding report. The standard practice is to maximise confidentiality. The report that was written, I wasn't shown. It wouldn't have been appropriate. I should have been aware there were wider concerns from the report. I hold my hands up. If I'd have known then what I know now, I would have asked.

    Rachel Brace: The information was given to me. I won't name the name. As soon as the information was given to me, it made me go back and ask questions.

    Glenn: There is a difference between safeguarding, which was done well, and the mess in the FA, which was a failure to look at our employment procedures. We are doing things differently now.

    When the employment recommendation was made to me, we acted swiftly.