FA Chair Greg Clarke said that the organization "has lost the trust of the public" and "failed" players who made complaints of bullying and racism, according to Alyson Rudd of the LONDON TIMES. In a "speech full of self-flagellation," Clarke told the FA Council that the complaints brought by Eniola Aluko and the subsequent Commons select committee "grilling" revealed the FA to be "grossly out of touch with modern society and governed by an all-white board that failed employees from diverse backgrounds." Clarke pleaded with his council to "face down self-interest to reach improvement" and address the "fundamental truths" that the Aluko case has highlighted. However, the speech provoked criticism, with anti-discrimination organization Kick It Out Chair Herman Ouseley replying that the FA "has lacked common sense and decency, which begs the question of whether it is in a fit state" to conduct the cultural review that Clarke said is needed. There were "calls for heads to roll at the FA" and for Clarke and CEO Martin Glenn to resign following what Clarke labeled "a very damaging episode" for the organization as he and his fellow execs faced MPs last week (LONDON TIMES, 10/26). In London, Ben Rumsby reported Andy Woodward, who "blew the whistle" on football's pedophile scandal, "became the latest to dispute Clarke’s evidence" to last week’s hearing into "the Mark Sampson saga, which has sent the FA into full-blown crisis mode." Clarke’s leadership "was already under major scrutiny following the handling of the Sampson scandal" and his and other senior figures' appearance before MPs last week. Woodward "has cast even more doubt on Clarke’s evidence" and his decision to bring up their "very confidential" meeting 11 months ago during an "astonishing attack" on the Professional Footballers' Association. Woodward’s revelation nearly a year ago that he had been "serially raped while in the game from the age of 11" unleashed what Clarke dubbed "the biggest crisis" he could remember the sport facing (TELEGRAPH, 10/25).
'WE FAILED': REUTERS' Jennings & Robinson reported Clarke described the inquiry he faced last week as "a bruising personal experience." Clarke: "We recognized the mistakes we had made, and hoped we could demonstrate our good intentions in how we had addressed an undeniably serious set of allegations. We failed. The judgement of the politicians, the judgement of the media and most importantly the judgement of the public was very clear -- we had failed Eniola Aluko, Drew Spence and Lianne Sanderson. We have apologized to them and I reiterate that apology again today" (REUTERS, 10/26).
