FA chiefs Greg Clarke and Martin Glenn face parliamentary questions over Mark Sampson
Wednesday 18 October 2017 16:03, UK
FA chairman Greg Clarke and chief executive Martin Glenn, along with Chelsea ladies striker Eni Aluko will give evidence to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee on Wednesday in the wake of allegations against former England Women manager Mark Sampson.
How did we get here?
Sampson, 34, who guided the Lionesses to third place in the 2015 Women's World Cup and the semi-final of Euro 2017, had been embroiled in a discrimination row after Aluko made claims of "bullying and harassment" against him.
Sampson denied the claims and was cleared by two investigations of any wrongdoing. The FA said it stood by the findings and that no evidence of wrongdoing was found.
But Sampson was sacked on September 20 over safeguarding allegations made against him in 2014 when he was at Bristol Academy. The FA's safeguarding team decided that following mentoring and training, Sampson "did not pose a risk working in the game". There was no criminal activity.
The FA's top people said the full report of that investigation was only brought to their attention in the week prior to his dismissal.
Damian Collins, chair of Parliament's Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee, told Sky News he could not understand how Sampson stayed on as manager of the England Women's football team when there was "clear evidence of inappropriate behaviour" against him.
Another England player, Drew Spence, submitted subsequent evidence to support Aluko's allegations, forcing the FA to reopen the investigation.
The FA will publish the findings of barrister Katharine Newton's reopened investigation into the claims against Sampson at the start of the hearing, revealing whether Spence's evidence has persuaded her to change her original verdict or clear Sampson for a third time.
Where is the hearing being held?
Two separate hearings will take place opposite the House of Commons in Portcullis House.
You can follow the DCMS hearing into FA governance on Sky Sports News and via a live blog from midday on Wednesday.
Who is giving evidence?
First up, the MPs will hear from Chelsea Ladies player Aluko, 30, who has not added to her 102 England caps since 2016 when she made her initial claims against Sampson in an FA inquiry, along with former team-mate Lianne Sanderson.
Then, at around 4pm, Clarke and Glenn will be quizzed by the select committee, as will FA technical director Dan Ashworth and human resources director Rachel Brace.
In its short statement to confirm who it was sending to the committee's evidence-gathering session, the FA said: "It is hoped this oral evidence will further inform the committee's important work on sports governance and how to support whistle-blowing in elite team sports."
What are the issues?
- Why did two internal investigations clear Mark Sampson of any wrongdoing?
- Why did the FA hire Sampson in 2013 but then see fit to sack him for having an inappropriate relationship in a role at Bristol Academy?
New light may also be shone on the £80,000 the FA paid Aluko as part of an agreement after Newton's report, wanting to "avoid disruption" before this summer's European Championships.
What can MPs do?
MPs can ask what they want under parliamentary privilege.
After Sampson's abrupt exit, Collins said: "The Football Association must explain why it took so long to look into issues raised about the coach's past."
The select committee cannot directly enforce any actions following the hearing but can make recommendations, with all information shared in the public domain.
