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FA chairman Greg Clarke blasted by MPs for calling institutional racism 'fluff' at football discrimination hearing

The FA has apologised to Eniola Aluko (pictured) after a new report found former England women's manager Mark Sampson made racial remarks towards her: Getty Images
The FA has apologised to Eniola Aluko (pictured) after a new report found former England women's manager Mark Sampson made racial remarks towards her: Getty Images

FA chairman Greg Clarke was today blasted by MPs for describing institutional racism as “fluff” as he gave evidence on discrimination in football.

Mr Clarke and three other FA chiefs appeared in front of a parliamentary committee after new evidence found ex-England women’s manager Mark Sampson made racial remarks to two players.

The footballing body apologised to striker Eniola Aluko and midfielder Drew Spence for Sampson’s “ill-judged attempts at humour” which were “discriminatory on the grounds of race”.

But speaking to a committee of MPs meeting on Wednesday to discuss the report into football racism and bullying, Mr Clarke found himself in hot water again.

MP Julie Elliott said FA Chairman Greg Clarke's remark 'speaks volumes' about the attitude towards racism. (ParliamentTV)
MP Julie Elliott said FA Chairman Greg Clarke's remark 'speaks volumes' about the attitude towards racism. (ParliamentTV)

Asked by Labour MP Julie Elliott whether he believed the FA had fulfilled its duty of care to striker Ms Aluko, who has 100 caps for England, the FA boss replied: “No.”

Ex-England striker Eniola Aluko told the committee she felt
Ex-England striker Eniola Aluko told the committee she felt

He went on: “It's really important in a governance role not to jump to conclusions. If I'd jumped to a conclusions halfway through this process – ‘there's no problem here, nothing's been found, whatever’, you have to look at the end what is established.”

He added: “What is established, putting aside all the fluff about institutional racism, institutional bullying-" before MPs cut him off in disagreement.

“Fluff is not the word I’d use to describe that,” one MP said, while Ms Elliott said his use of the word “speaks volumes” about his attitude, adding that “language matters”.

Mr Clarke responded: “Please don't take it out of context. What I was trying to say, maybe badly, is I could get distracted by the irrelevant. I shouldn't have said fluff.”

England manager Mark Sampson, who was sacked last month. (PA)
England manager Mark Sampson, who was sacked last month. (PA)

The FA chief, who succeeded Greg Dyke as chairman last year, added: “I could have come in and said, well Katharine Newton [the author of the investigation] said there's no evidence of bullying, of systemic racism.

“But that's not the issue, that's why I mischaracterised [sic] it as fluff. 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 to that person and I feel very bad about that."

Until today, Sampson had been cleared twice of discrimination in an internal FA review and then a review by independent barrister Katharine Newton.

Four FA chiefs gave evidence to MPs including technical director Dan Ashworth, chairman Greg Clarke, chief executive Martin Glenn and HR director Rachel Brace. (ParliamentTV)
Four FA chiefs gave evidence to MPs including technical director Dan Ashworth, chairman Greg Clarke, chief executive Martin Glenn and HR director Rachel Brace. (ParliamentTV)

The allegations centred around a comment Aluko, 30, said Sampson had made to her in 2014. When speaking to her manager about her Nigerian family flying over to watch a match, Aluko claimed Sampson told her to make sure they did not bring the ebola virus with them.

But after it emerged Newton had failed to interview key witnesses, the FA faced calls for a fresh investigation.

New evidence was also presented from mixed-race England midfielder Drew Spence, supporting an allegation by Aluko that Sampson had asked Spence whether she had been arrested during a 2015 tournament.

Sampson, 34, has always denied allegations of discrimination and racism.

FA boss Greg Clarke blasted for calling institutional racism 'fluff' (ParliamentTV)
FA boss Greg Clarke blasted for calling institutional racism 'fluff' (ParliamentTV)

He was sacked last month, after bosses learned of an “inappropriate” relationship with a player in a previous job at Bristol City Women’s football club. The FA said his firing was not related to the discrimination allegations.

The FA reopened the probe into the racism allegations and Katharine Newton’s fresh findings were presented in front of the Commons’ Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee on Wednesday afternoon.

Aluko told MPs she felt “vindicated and relieved”.

She said: "My emotion is just relief as it's been a long process getting to this point. I'm not architect or engineer of this situation. I've been put in it.

"I'm a human being and I feel relieved. It suggest it was kind of all worth it going through the trouble and having it vindicated."

Aluko, who has 102 caps for England, said she sent her complaint to FA Chairman Mr Clarke in November 2016 but she was "astonished" that he dismissed it, forcing her to go to an employment tribunal.

She also alleged that Lee Kendall, appointed as England Women's goalkeeping coach in 2014, spoke to her in a fake Caribbean accent while she was with the England team.

The committee heard chairman Mr Clarke said there were "systemic historic failings which contributed to today's mess", adding the FA's management was previously at three out of 10 and is now on about six.

FA chief executive Martin Glenn squirmed at some of the committee's questions. (ParliamentTV)
FA chief executive Martin Glenn squirmed at some of the committee's questions. (ParliamentTV)

In a statement, FA chief executive Martin Glenn “sincerely apologised” to both Aluko and Spence.

The statement read: “In her final report Katharine Newton concluded that on two separate occasions Mark Sampson made ill-judged attempts at humour, which as a matter of law were discriminatory on grounds of race within the meaning of the Equality Act 2010. Katharine Newton did however conclude that Mark Sampson was not racist.

"She also concluded that there was no evidence to support the allegations that Eniola Aluko was subjected to "a course of bullying and discriminatory conduct" by Mark Sampson.

"Our ambition has always been to find the truth and take swift and appropriate action if needed. It was our decision to have the original, second and final investigation to ensure that due diligence was taken. It is regrettable that Eniola did not participate in the first external investigation as this would have enabled Katharine Newton to conduct and complete her investigation sooner.

"We will fully support the recommendations from the report.”