Having acquitted him twice of racist remarks, finding that not only has the problem not gone away, it is escalating, the FA lawyers have gone on a trawl to find something, anything to get shot of him, sweetened of course with a sizeable lump sum.
And you don’t see that the discussions on social media are being based on very little actual evidence / information (unless you have access to all the relevant source material)? All were doing is taking 1 + 1 and making 3, that’s you, me, everyone. Let me put it this way, if it were you, would you like the whole story to be out there in the media with people coming up with what are most likely inaccurate theories and wild / offensive comments and opinion? Trial by popular social media in my opinion. Feel free to disagree, that’s your prerogative.
Forget social media. Let’s take the words of the fa chief executive as evidence.
“Mark had overstepped the professional boundaries between player and coach. We know that coaches are in a potential position of power and that position mustn’t be abused."
So are you saying that the FA have terminated Sampson’s contract because of things that have been written/said in the media or posted on social media?
Fair enough SOS
I see it is reported that the FA did check his tenure in his previous role, receiving a report on this which concluded he was fine to be employed in the England job.
Some 2.5 years later they now say that they have only just read the full report which they have had all along, after a tip off (!) and have spotted that, no, his conduct was unprofessional after all.
Seriously, WTF?
You know full well that I’m not saying that. Public perception of the whole sorry mess that’s a different story. People here are generally pretty well balanced when it comes to things like this. Elsewhere I’m not so convinced.
I think I read that he gets paid between 100-150k a year. That seems a lot to me. Not much less than a PM. A lot more than me.
To be fair to Martin Glenn and Greg Clarke, it was made clear today that the full report on the investigation in 2014, and it’s contents, were only made known to them last week. So i think we can safely say that you are correct, it was clearly covered up and buried by the ‘shop floor’. Just like the allegations of child abuse at the Villa academy, and Graham Taylors role in covering it up, which came to light last week. Not to mention investigations at a few clubs into historic sexual abuse which are ongoing. This is very close to us of course, with the Bob Higgins ‘revelations’! These ‘revelations’ have been common knowledge to loads of Saints fans for 20 odd years. As soon as his name was mentioned it would be, ‘nudge nudge, wink wink’. Higgins has been charged with 65 counts of child sexual abuse. That’s why it was ludicrous last year when the powers that be in charge at Saints all threw up their hands in horror, protesting that they had no idea, if they had heard even a sniff of it, he would have been shown the door. As it is he left with glowing references and still maintained contact with the club.
Glenn also stressed today that there were several allegations made against Sampson at Bristol, ranging from what could be regarded as trivial to very serious. It really doesn’t need spelling out what ‘inappropriate relationships with his charges’ really means. Bear in mind that when this investigation took place he had only been employed there for a couple of months, so he didn’t waste a lot of time, clearly hit the ground running! It was dealt with in house and Sampson was sent on an ‘awareness course’ or something. There is clearly a macho culture running the game at grass roots, i would imagine Sampson would have been considered a bit of a lad by his peers at the FA. “That Mark Sampson eh, what a lad he is”. 'How many did you shag, Mark?" etc. I think he will not be the last out of the door once the details come out. Coaches in these positions have incredible power over their charges, who are desperate for a career in football, desperate to please, susceptable to flattery and inducements. They would be terrified of rocking the boat.
There is clearly a problem of sexual abuse in football at junior level, that is surely indisputable. And it is a sad fact of life that any job coaching 16 year old girls will always attract some pervs.
If he was guilty of inappropriate behaviour before why did the FA not know about it?
Interestingly, I read some of the comments on the Independent website. There was a chap called Chris who said he was the father of a WSL footballer. He said that grooming of girls especially those in the 14-16 age bracket was rife in the game. He also said that the grooming was being done mainly by senior players.
Or Bristol City?
I think perhaps we’re quibbling over definitions here. Nothing to be gained by further quibbling.
But an outside source did(if we believe Glenn) and decided now was the time for the fa to be reminded of what their own report said.
Glenn started his current job in the same month the report was concluded. Coincidence?
The smell is getting worse.
+1 this is all v.disturbing! Who would want to be a woman footballer if there is a chance that once every 3 years or so someone might say something that hurts your feelings! And now it seems this is just the Tip Of The Iceburg!
There is clearly a dark sickness at the heart of the women’s game, and tbh I think the only thing to do is shut the women’s game down entirely, until such a time as they can conduct themselves properly, like Men.
Fish?
Am I right in thinking that the issues at Bristol are allegations rather than proven facts? If so surely he could have a claim against the FA for wrongful dismissal?
I think they’re proven facts, he had to go on an “awareness” course after the first lot.
If that is the case, the facts were not enough to warrant termination 2 years ago (just some sort of remedial course), but now these historic facts mean he has to be fired. Again, WTF is going on there?
An awareness course?
Are you aware that you’re a bit of a perv?
Yep.
Cool, do carry on.
If you have proof, don’t piss about with a dull apologetic morning in a Holiday Inn conference suite, chuck the book at him.