EPL CEO Richard Scudamore "escaped any disciplinary action from the Premier League over his sexist emails on Monday" after its 17 current clubs unanimously decided it was not "required or justified," according to Ben Rumsby of the London TELEGRAPH. Scudamore, fighting to "keep his job since a former personal assistant leaked correspondence from him containing crude jokes about women," was given the "full backing of those with the power to reprimand him." Scudamore convinced the clubs that he would "undertake steps to avoid a repeat of the conduct that has threatened to bring an end to his 15-year reign at the top of the English game" (TELEGRAPH, 5/19). In London, Matt Dickinson reported following an investigation led by acting EPL Chair Peter McCormick, which was "overseen by a law firm, a statement admonished Scudamore" for remarks which "have no place in the Premier League's working environment" but went on to praise his work and his "previously unblemished record" over 15 years. A meeting on Monday in London involved 17 clubs that were represented "in person or over a conference call." While they will "see this as the end of the matter, fresh criticism is likely tomorrow when the FA’s inclusion advisory board meets," led by FA independent board member Heather Rabbatts, who had "called for an overhaul of Premier League governance and for Scudamore to consider his position." McCormick said that the clubs "accepted Scudamore's 'genuine and sincere apology'" (LONDON TIMES, 5/19).
EPL ISSUES STATEMENT: The BBC reported the Premier League said in a statement issued on behalf of its members that there was "no climate of disrespect of women in the workplace" at the Premier League and claimed that Scudamore's female colleagues made it clear his "conduct and behaviour have been beyond reproach." The statement added, "These emails were private communications between friends of long-standing and the temporary PA was not exposed to them in the course of her duties but had to search for them in a private email account which she was not authorised to access" (BBC, 5/19). The PA's Martyn Ziegler reported Scudamore said in a statement that he felt "sincere contrition over the emails." Scudamore said, "Entering into email exchanges of this nature was wrong and the apology I have made is sincere, as is the contrition I feel. These exchanges do not reflect my views towards women in football, the workplace or in general" (PA, 5/19).
ANIMOSITY REMAINS: In London, Giuseppe Muro reported Kick It Out Chair Herman Ouseley on Monday claimed football remains a "bastion of white male domination" (EVENING STANDARD, 5/19). Also in London, Christopher Hope reported British PM David Cameron said that Scudamore would have "been sacked by now if he had been in the Cabinet." It was Cameron's "first intervention on the sexism row that is dominating the football world." Asked if "someone in your team could survive if they admitted that sort of thing," Cameron replied, "No I don't think they would" (TELEGRAPH, 5/19). In a statement, Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation CEO Ruth Holdaway condenmed the decision. Holdaway: "The Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation is surprised and disappointed to learn that the Premier League has chosen to take no action against their Chief Executive, Richard Scudamore. ... Our concern rests particularly in the belief that the lack of response sends a negative message to women and girls; namely, that sexist comments from those in power in football go unpunished and that the sport is not for them" (WSFF).
FALLING SHORT: In London, David Conn opined the Premier League "has long presented and thought of itself as the ultimate modern, professional, corporate operation." However, Scudamore's "sub-adolescent" email exchange "has revealed a body which falls rather short of that ideal" (GUARDIAN, 5/19).
