FA Head of Team Strategy & Performance Dave Reddin is accused of overseeing a "culture of fear." GETTY IMAGES
One of the "key figures" behind England’s march to the World Cup semifinals this summer was reportedly accused of presiding over "a culture of fear and bullying" at the FA, according to Ben Rumsby of the London TELEGRAPH. Dave Reddin, the FA’s head of team strategy and performance and one of its most senior figures, is said to have left colleagues "in tears, suffering with stress related illnesses and being forced to leave the organisation." An investigation "also uncovered evidence the FA failed" to properly address a written complaint about Reddin amid a suspected "cover-up" in a case with "echoes" of the one involving former England women's national team Manager Mark Sampson. The MP who led a "damning parliamentary probe" into the Sampson scandal, Damian Collins, called for an "independent" inquiry into the "latest controversy to engulf the FA," a year after it committed to a "full cultural review." The FA confirmed on Tuesday that it received an anonymous letter raising "certain concerns" about Reddin but said that it was "entirely satisfied" the complaint had been dealt with "appropriately" and "refused to disclose the outcome." The complaint, sent to FA CEO Martin Glenn and Human Resources Dir Rachel Brace, reportedly named nine of Reddin’s colleagues who allegedly "expressed concerns" about the "performance guru." The FA on Tuesday "admitted not contacting four of the nine but claimed it had approached the other five" and said that they had "all said they had never experienced any bullying by Reddin" (TELEGRAPH, 10/9).
