Nigerian-born British footballer Eniola Aluko has told the UK parliamentary inquiry over racism that the English FA chief executive Martin Glenn asked her to make a written statement that “the FA was not institutionally racist” and in return “the FA would consider” releasing the second portion of an agreed financial settlement. Aluko says the offer was “bordering on blackmail”. Glenn denies asking her to make the statement and refuses to confirm that the FA will now make the payment.
However, the FA has now apologised to 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”. Â An independent barrister ruled Sampson made unacceptable “ill-judged attempts at humour” on two occasions, to Eniola Aluko and Drew Spence.
As the report of Katharine Newton’s reopened investigation was published, FA bosses faced uncomfortable questions over four hours at a parliamentary inquiry, with one MP labelling the organisation “shambolic”. Chelsea striker Aluko, 30, said she felt “vindicated and relieved” by the barrister’s ruling but accused English football’s governing body of behaviour “bordering on blackmail” and an agenda to protect Sampson and its own reputation. Aluko had said the FA was “dismissive” when she first claimed Sampson told her to make sure her Nigerian relatives did not bring the Ebola virus to the friendly against Germany at Wembley in November 2014. Sampson denied that claim, along with another allegation that he asked a mixed-race player – Chelsea midfielder Spence – if she had been arrested before, and then jokingly suggested she had been arrested four times.
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