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~~'A lot of the England team still haven't apologised': Eni Aluko on life after whistleblowing~~	Eni Aluko: ‘We all have moments in life when our morals are called into question’
2019-08-24 10:00:17 UTC	2019-08-24 13:50:29 UTC (about 4 hours later)
Eniola Aluko is one of only 11 female footballers to have played more than 100 times for England. She has scored some of the Lionesses’ most memorable goals, was the first female pundit on Match Of The Day, and is a qualified lawyer, having graduated from Brunel University London with a first in 2008. But it is as a whistleblower that she is destined to be best remembered. And, like many whistleblowers, she has spent the subsequent years being rubbished by those she exposed.	Eniola Aluko is one of only 11 female footballers to have played more than 100 times for England. She has scored some of the Lionesses’ most memorable goals, was the first female pundit on Match Of The Day, and is a qualified lawyer, having graduated from Brunel University London with a first in 2008. But it is as a whistleblower that she is destined to be best remembered. And, like many whistleblowers, she has spent the subsequent years being rubbished by those she exposed.
Now she has written a memoir. They Don’t Teach This is a fascinating examination of her multiple identities – British and Nigerian, a girl in a boy’s world, footballer and academic, a kid from an estate with upper-middle-class parents, a God-fearing rebel. But the book is at its best when she reveals exactly what happened after she accused the England management team of racism, and the Football Association of turning a blind eye to it. Aluko does not hold back – and few people from the football establishment emerge with their reputation intact.	Now she has written a memoir. They Don’t Teach This is a fascinating examination of her multiple identities – British and Nigerian, a girl in a boy’s world, footballer and academic, a kid from an estate with upper-middle-class parents, a God-fearing rebel. But the book is at its best when she reveals exactly what happened after she accused the England management team of racism, and the Football Association of turning a blind eye to it. Aluko does not hold back – and few people from the football establishment emerge with their reputation intact.
Aluko now plays for Juventus in Italy, but we meet at her old stomping ground, Brunel. She has been delayed by traffic, which gives me time to explore the sports centre. On the wall are three huge, framed posters of Brunel alumni – sporting legends. Guess who they are, I say to Aluko when she arrives. “Mo Farah, definitely,” she says instantly. And? “Erm… oh, Usain Bolt! Obviously! He trained here.” And the third? She is stumped. Then she looks. “Oh. My. God!” It is a poster of her playing for England. “Wow! That’s amazing.” She looks genuinely thrilled.	Aluko now plays for Juventus in Italy, but we meet at her old stomping ground, Brunel. She has been delayed by traffic, which gives me time to explore the sports centre. On the wall are three huge, framed posters of Brunel alumni – sporting legends. Guess who they are, I say to Aluko when she arrives. “Mo Farah, definitely,” she says instantly. And? “Erm… oh, Usain Bolt! Obviously! He trained here.” And the third? She is stumped. Then she looks. “Oh. My. God!” It is a poster of her playing for England. “Wow! That’s amazing.” She looks genuinely thrilled.
Aluko has a small, mobile face with striking features – big, brown eyes and a huge, ear-to-ear smile. When she is unhappy, she makes no attempt to hide it; her glare is as forbidding as the smile is winning. And there haven’t been many times over the past five years that Aluko has had reason to smile.	Aluko has a small, mobile face with striking features – big, brown eyes and a huge, ear-to-ear smile. When she is unhappy, she makes no attempt to hide it; her glare is as forbidding as the smile is winning. And there haven’t been many times over the past five years that Aluko has had reason to smile.
It all started in January 2014, barely a month after Mark Sampson took over as manager of the Lionesses. Sampson was 30 years old, an inexperienced coach who had never played professional football. At 28, Aluko was virtually an England veteran, a first-team regular and a popular member of the squad who had used her legal skills to champion teammates – notably helping to draw up a new central contract for the team. The striker was also a conscientious player, always keen to improve her game.	It all started in January 2014, barely a month after Mark Sampson took over as manager of the Lionesses. Sampson was 30 years old, an inexperienced coach who had never played professional football. At 28, Aluko was virtually an England veteran, a first-team regular and a popular member of the squad who had used her legal skills to champion teammates – notably helping to draw up a new central contract for the team. The striker was also a conscientious player, always keen to improve her game.
Her desire to better herself led to her taking advantage of a new system that enabled players to watch back games and analyse their own performance, while hearing the audio from the management team. After a match against Finland, a 3-1 win for England in which Aluko had scored a goal and made another, she reviewed the footage. Aluko had been pleased with her performance – which made it more shocking when she heard the audio. “The goalkeeping coach Lee Kendall said: ‘Eni is lazy as fuck,’ and: ‘She’s not fit enough.’ Then, when I lost the ball, he said: ‘Oh, fuck off, Eni,’” she tells me. She heard no disparaging remarks about other players, nor any positive comments when she scored and assisted a goal.	Her desire to better herself led to her taking advantage of a new system that enabled players to watch back games and analyse their own performance, while hearing the audio from the management team. After a match against Finland, a 3-1 win for England in which Aluko had scored a goal and made another, she reviewed the footage. Aluko had been pleased with her performance – which made it more shocking when she heard the audio. “The goalkeeping coach Lee Kendall said: ‘Eni is lazy as fuck,’ and: ‘She’s not fit enough.’ Then, when I lost the ball, he said: ‘Oh, fuck off, Eni,’” she tells me. She heard no disparaging remarks about other players, nor any positive comments when she scored and assisted a goal.
Aluko was confused. She was in the form of her life, with six goals in six games for England. And, more to the point, she says, she had never been called lazy before. “At the time, I didn’t think too deeply about what was being said. I was just like: why is this being said about me on a portal that everyone can access? Then I started thinking about where has this come from.” The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became that there was a racial connotation. “Look, lazy is a generic term. Anybody can be called lazy if you’re not tracking back. But if you’re black and you’re called lazy, it’s different. Some words have real context to them, and this dates back to slavery times. In that split second, I’m sure Lee Kendall didn’t think about racial connotations, but that’s what racism can be.”	Aluko was confused. She was in the form of her life, with six goals in six games for England. And, more to the point, she says, she had never been called lazy before. “At the time, I didn’t think too deeply about what was being said. I was just like: why is this being said about me on a portal that everyone can access? Then I started thinking about where has this come from.” The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became that there was a racial connotation. “Look, lazy is a generic term. Anybody can be called lazy if you’re not tracking back. But if you’re black and you’re called lazy, it’s different. Some words have real context to them, and this dates back to slavery times. In that split second, I’m sure Lee Kendall didn’t think about racial connotations, but that’s what racism can be.”
One coach spoke to her in a fake Caribbean accent. 'I was tempted to speak to him in a Scottish accent'	One coach spoke to her in a fake Caribbean accent. 'I was tempted to speak to him in a Scottish accent'
One coach spoke to her in a fake Caribbean accent. ‘I was tempted to speak to him in a Scottish accent, despite knowing he was Welsh.’ Aluko is fully aware, as are most football fans of a certain age, how charged the word “lazy” is in relation to black footballers. In 2004, the former Manchester United manager Ron Atkinson was sacked as a pundit on ITV (and as a Guardian columnist) after a microphone picked him up saying the French defender Marcel Desailly “is what is known in some schools as a fucking lazy thick nigger”. Aluko knew Kendall’s comment bore no comparison, but she couldn’t help thinking about it. She started to feel the management team had it in for her, but kept stumm. What Kendall had said was unpleasant, but it would be virtually impossible to prove it was anything more. If they didn’t like her, she would show her worth on the pitch. And she did, finishing joint top scorer among all nations competing for qualification for the European Championships in 2015, with 13 goals.	One coach spoke to her in a fake Caribbean accent. ‘I was tempted to speak to him in a Scottish accent, despite knowing he was Welsh.’ Aluko is fully aware, as are most football fans of a certain age, how charged the word “lazy” is in relation to black footballers. In 2004, the former Manchester United manager Ron Atkinson was sacked as a pundit on ITV (and as a Guardian columnist) after a microphone picked him up saying the French defender Marcel Desailly “is what is known in some schools as a fucking lazy thick nigger”. Aluko knew Kendall’s comment bore no comparison, but she couldn’t help thinking about it. She started to feel the management team had it in for her, but kept stumm. What Kendall had said was unpleasant, but it would be virtually impossible to prove it was anything more. If they didn’t like her, she would show her worth on the pitch. And she did, finishing joint top scorer among all nations competing for qualification for the European Championships in 2015, with 13 goals.
But the comments continued – now to her face. In November 2014, she told Sampson that her family was flying in from Nigeria for a friendly against Germany. He replied: “Well, make sure they don’t come over with Ebola.” (Sampson denied saying this for a long time after.) Aluko says she laughed nervously but was left reeling. She told her England teammate Lianne Sanderson, but said she wasn’t going to make a big deal of it. She wanted to focus on her football.	But the comments continued – now to her face. In November 2014, she told Sampson that her family was flying in from Nigeria for a friendly against Germany. He replied: “Well, make sure they don’t come over with Ebola.” (Sampson denied saying this for a long time after.) Aluko says she laughed nervously but was left reeling. She told her England teammate Lianne Sanderson, but said she wasn’t going to make a big deal of it. She wanted to focus on her football.
At one point, Kendall, a close friend of Sampson, started speaking to her in a fake Caribbean accent. It infuriated Aluko – not least because she isn’t from the Caribbean. “I was often tempted to speak to him in a Scottish accent, despite knowing he was Welsh, just to make the point.”	At one point, Kendall, a close friend of Sampson, started speaking to her in a fake Caribbean accent. It infuriated Aluko – not least because she isn’t from the Caribbean. “I was often tempted to speak to him in a Scottish accent, despite knowing he was Welsh, just to make the point.”
Then she started to notice other things happening to black members of the squad. In October 2015, Chelsea’s midfielder Drew Spence was called up to the England squad for the first time, for a trip to China. Spence told Aluko that, in a meeting of midfielders, Sampson turned to the newcomer and said: “Haven’t you been arrested before, then? Four times, isn’t it?” Spence was the only non-white player in the room and has never been arrested. After making these remarks, Sampson never picked her again for England; she still has only two caps.	Then she started to notice other things happening to black members of the squad. In October 2015, Chelsea’s midfielder Drew Spence was called up to the England squad for the first time, for a trip to China. Spence told Aluko that, in a meeting of midfielders, Sampson turned to the newcomer and said: “Haven’t you been arrested before, then? Four times, isn’t it?” Spence was the only non-white player in the room and has never been arrested. After making these remarks, Sampson never picked her again for England; she still has only two caps.
A few days later, the midfielder Jill Scott was feted when she won her 100th cap against Australia – speeches were made, she captained the team, a video message was played from her family. In the same match, Sanderson won her 50th cap – another considerable milestone, normally celebrated with a special shirt – but this was ignored. Sanderson told Aluko she was devastated; with Aluko’s encouragement, she told Sampson how upset she was, but asked him not to make an issue of it in front of the team. The following day, he addressed the squad, said he had made a mistake in not acknowledging her 50th cap and presented her with a special shirt. Sanderson was never selected for England again.	A few days later, the midfielder Jill Scott was feted when she won her 100th cap against Australia – speeches were made, she captained the team, a video message was played from her family. In the same match, Sanderson won her 50th cap – another considerable milestone, normally celebrated with a special shirt – but this was ignored. Sanderson told Aluko she was devastated; with Aluko’s encouragement, she told Sampson how upset she was, but asked him not to make an issue of it in front of the team. The following day, he addressed the squad, said he had made a mistake in not acknowledging her 50th cap and presented her with a special shirt. Sanderson was never selected for England again.
While Sampson did not drop Aluko, he told her repeatedly that he couldn’t rely on her, that she lacked stamina and heart, that she was selfish and didn’t play for the team. After Aluko scored a hat-trick in a 10-0 thrashing of Montenegro, Sampson presented her with the ball, telling the team: “We all know Eni is a pain in the arse, but she did well to score a hat-trick after I gave her the target of scoring five goals today.”	While Sampson did not drop Aluko, he told her repeatedly that he couldn’t rely on her, that she lacked stamina and heart, that she was selfish and didn’t play for the team. After Aluko scored a hat-trick in a 10-0 thrashing of Montenegro, Sampson presented her with the ball, telling the team: “We all know Eni is a pain in the arse, but she did well to score a hat-trick after I gave her the target of scoring five goals today.”
Aluko was still reluctant to draw attention to Sampson’s behaviour. “As black players, you don’t always want to be bringing these issues up. You want to just play football. You know that the accusations of ‘playing the race card’ are going to come up. So I would bite my tongue. I’d see the level of ignorance, roll my eyes and get on with it.”	Aluko was still reluctant to draw attention to Sampson’s behaviour. “As black players, you don’t always want to be bringing these issues up. You want to just play football. You know that the accusations of ‘playing the race card’ are going to come up. So I would bite my tongue. I’d see the level of ignorance, roll my eyes and get on with it.”
And so it continued. Aluko says the only thing that kept her going was her desperation to reach 100 caps – and become the first British-African woman to do so. When it finally happened, in February 2016, the occasion was soured by Sampson. She says he refused to give her advanced notice she would be playing, so she could invite her family. Then, on the morning of the match, Sampson told her she wasn’t in the starting 11 because he wanted to field his strongest team. In the end, he brought her on in the second half and the captain, Steph Houghton, handed her the captain’s band. But by then she was inconsolable.	And so it continued. Aluko says the only thing that kept her going was her desperation to reach 100 caps – and become the first British-African woman to do so. When it finally happened, in February 2016, the occasion was soured by Sampson. She says he refused to give her advanced notice she would be playing, so she could invite her family. Then, on the morning of the match, Sampson told her she wasn’t in the starting 11 because he wanted to field his strongest team. In the end, he brought her on in the second half and the captain, Steph Houghton, handed her the captain’s band. But by then she was inconsolable.
Three months later, in May 2016, the FA invited Aluko to participate in a confidential “culture review” about her experiences as a black woman in the England team. She agreed to a phone interview in which she said that she felt demoralised, and that under Sampson’s management her negative experiences outweighed the positive ones.	Three months later, in May 2016, the FA invited Aluko to participate in a confidential “culture review” about her experiences as a black woman in the England team. She agreed to a phone interview in which she said that she felt demoralised, and that under Sampson’s management her negative experiences outweighed the positive ones.
Twelve days later, she was visited by Sampson at Chelsea’s ground and told she was being dropped from the England squad for “un-Lionness behaviour” and a bad attitude in the previous camp. A shocked Aluko asked for examples. Sampson told her she had been withdrawn and that her behaviour differed depending on whether or not she was in the starting lineup. Aluko hasn’t played for England since.	Twelve days later, she was visited by Sampson at Chelsea’s ground and told she was being dropped from the England squad for “un-Lionness behaviour” and a bad attitude in the previous camp. A shocked Aluko asked for examples. Sampson told her she had been withdrawn and that her behaviour differed depending on whether or not she was in the starting lineup. Aluko hasn’t played for England since.
She was convinced she had been dropped because Sampson had found out about the supposedly confidential culture review. In June, she wrote to the FA with a grievance report. In August 2016, the head of elite development finally replied, insisting the two were unrelated. The FA told her it would investigate her allegations, but at the same time announced that its Integrity Unit was investigating a consultancy role Aluko had with a football agency. The FA concluded that she would have to stop working for the agency or quit football, because she was in breach of “FA intermediary roles”. Aluko argued there was no conflict of interest, but surrendered her paid role.	She was convinced she had been dropped because Sampson had found out about the supposedly confidential culture review. In June, she wrote to the FA with a grievance report. In August 2016, the head of elite development finally replied, insisting the two were unrelated. The FA told her it would investigate her allegations, but at the same time announced that its Integrity Unit was investigating a consultancy role Aluko had with a football agency. The FA concluded that she would have to stop working for the agency or quit football, because she was in breach of “FA intermediary roles”. Aluko argued there was no conflict of interest, but surrendered her paid role.
She began to think she wasn’t simply involved in a spat with the England management, but that she was at war with the FA. And, as far as Aluko was concerned, the FA was playing dirty.	She began to think she wasn’t simply involved in a spat with the England management, but that she was at war with the FA. And, as far as Aluko was concerned, the FA was playing dirty.
***	***
Aluko calls herself an accidental whistleblower. She never planned to sacrifice her career on the altar of justice; she just planned to alert the confidential review to inappropriate behaviour. In a way, she says, all she has ever wanted to do is quietly conform and get on with playing football. But Aluko has always stood out.	Aluko calls herself an accidental whistleblower. She never planned to sacrifice her career on the altar of justice; she just planned to alert the confidential review to inappropriate behaviour. In a way, she says, all she has ever wanted to do is quietly conform and get on with playing football. But Aluko has always stood out.
Her parents, Sileola and Daniel, moved the family from Lagos to Birmingham when Aluko was six months old. Daniel returned to Nigeria to pursue a career in politics, while Sileola worked first as a nurse and then for a pharmaceutical company, bringing up her children in England. From the age of five, Aluko was the only girl on her estate who played football. She and her younger brother, Sone, also a professional footballer, spent their free time honing their skills. Until she went to secondary school, she says, she never had a female friend. Her football-playing male friends called her Eddie, because it was a bit easier than Eni and a lot easier than Eniola.	Her parents, Sileola and Daniel, moved the family from Lagos to Birmingham when Aluko was six months old. Daniel returned to Nigeria to pursue a career in politics, while Sileola worked first as a nurse and then for a pharmaceutical company, bringing up her children in England. From the age of five, Aluko was the only girl on her estate who played football. She and her younger brother, Sone, also a professional footballer, spent their free time honing their skills. Until she went to secondary school, she says, she never had a female friend. Her football-playing male friends called her Eddie, because it was a bit easier than Eni and a lot easier than Eniola.
Some parents were hostile to Aluko playing football – particularly as she was better than their sons. The young Eni was told she was different from all the other girls. She knows she should have been proud, but she felt crushed. “If I was talking to my young self, I’d say: don’t be afraid to be individual. Because I was afraid to be different. When the parents at school said: ‘Why’s a girl playing football?’ it made me feel alien.”	Some parents were hostile to Aluko playing football – particularly as she was better than their sons. The young Eni was told she was different from all the other girls. She knows she should have been proud, but she felt crushed. “If I was talking to my young self, I’d say: don’t be afraid to be individual. Because I was afraid to be different. When the parents at school said: ‘Why’s a girl playing football?’ it made me feel alien.”
It wasn’t only football ability that differentiated the Alukos. While the other children on the estate spoke with a broad Brummy accent, Sileola insisted Eni and Sone spoke the Queen’s English. They might have been living a working-class life, but they did not have working-class roots. In Nigeria, their father had become a prominent politician. Meanwhile, at school, she began to learn how complex prejudice can be. “I didn’t get racism from the white girls, but I got really bad bullying from the black Caribbean girls who saw something in me that they didn’t understand. They used to call me ‘African bhuttu’, which was patois for unsophisticated. And they called me ‘Coconut’ because I spoke well and hung around with white people.”	It wasn’t only football ability that differentiated the Alukos. While the other children on the estate spoke with a broad Brummy accent, Sileola insisted Eni and Sone spoke the Queen’s English. They might have been living a working-class life, but they did not have working-class roots. In Nigeria, their father had become a prominent politician. Meanwhile, at school, she began to learn how complex prejudice can be. “I didn’t get racism from the white girls, but I got really bad bullying from the black Caribbean girls who saw something in me that they didn’t understand. They used to call me ‘African bhuttu’, which was patois for unsophisticated. And they called me ‘Coconut’ because I spoke well and hung around with white people.”
At the age of 15, she joined Birmingham City Ladies, where her coach Marcus Bignot labelled her the “Wayne Rooney of women’s football”; like Rooney, she was short and muscular with an explosive burst of pace. That year, she was called up to the England youth squad. At her first camp, her skills made her stand out. “I flicked the ball over somebody’s head, brought it down and did a Cruyff turn and Hope Powell [Sampson’s predecessor at England] stopped the session and said: ‘It’s not the Eni show.’ I remember thinking: well, I’m not going to do that again. I’ll just get it and pass it.” Now she says she wishes she had followed her instincts – it would have made her a better player. For her, that was a big difference between the boys’ and girls’ games – while boys were encouraged to nurture their individuality, girls were scolded for it.	At the age of 15, she joined Birmingham City Ladies, where her coach Marcus Bignot labelled her the “Wayne Rooney of women’s football”; like Rooney, she was short and muscular with an explosive burst of pace. That year, she was called up to the England youth squad. At her first camp, her skills made her stand out. “I flicked the ball over somebody’s head, brought it down and did a Cruyff turn and Hope Powell [Sampson’s predecessor at England] stopped the session and said: ‘It’s not the Eni show.’ I remember thinking: well, I’m not going to do that again. I’ll just get it and pass it.” Now she says she wishes she had followed her instincts – it would have made her a better player. For her, that was a big difference between the boys’ and girls’ games – while boys were encouraged to nurture their individuality, girls were scolded for it.
Despite that desire to conform, there was already something unusually forthright about her. After discovering her cousin Fola had become a high-flying lawyer in New York, and reading To Kill A Mockingbird, she decided she wanted to become Atticus Finch and save lives. By then, Aluko says, she saw an injustice lurking on every corner. A boy in her class was bullied for his afro. Rather than defending him, the school banned afros. Aluko was outraged – not least because one boy had long, dyed-green hair and nothing was said about it. She went to see the headteacher, who heard her out and told her she was changing the rules – enforcing short hair for all the boys. It taught her that justice doesn’t always look the way you want it to. That Christmas, the school awarded her a special prize for speaking up for others.	Despite that desire to conform, there was already something unusually forthright about her. After discovering her cousin Fola had become a high-flying lawyer in New York, and reading To Kill A Mockingbird, she decided she wanted to become Atticus Finch and save lives. By then, Aluko says, she saw an injustice lurking on every corner. A boy in her class was bullied for his afro. Rather than defending him, the school banned afros. Aluko was outraged – not least because one boy had long, dyed-green hair and nothing was said about it. She went to see the headteacher, who heard her out and told her she was changing the rules – enforcing short hair for all the boys. It taught her that justice doesn’t always look the way you want it to. That Christmas, the school awarded her a special prize for speaking up for others.
***	***
After Aluko put her grievance into writing in 2016, an internal investigation cleared Sampson and the management team of any wrongdoing. Aluko threatened to take the FA to court. The FA held a second investigation, this time hiring the barrister Katharine Newton to examine the evidence. In March 2017, it again cleared Sampson and his staff of wrongdoing, but Aluko was paid £80,000 in an out-of-court settlement.	After Aluko put her grievance into writing in 2016, an internal investigation cleared Sampson and the management team of any wrongdoing. Aluko threatened to take the FA to court. The FA held a second investigation, this time hiring the barrister Katharine Newton to examine the evidence. In March 2017, it again cleared Sampson and his staff of wrongdoing, but Aluko was paid £80,000 in an out-of-court settlement.
In August that year, the findings were leaked to the Daily Mail, along with information about the settlement. Aluko was horrified by the way she was portrayed. The Mail did not mention the racism, only that Aluko had made allegations of bullying and harassment against Sampson and his staff. It suggested that the FA paid her the money only because it wanted to avoid disruption in the buildup to Euro 2017, that she was making problems because she had lost her place in the squad, and that her teammates didn’t like her. In fact, the payout was for loss of earnings.	In August that year, the findings were leaked to the Daily Mail, along with information about the settlement. Aluko was horrified by the way she was portrayed. The Mail did not mention the racism, only that Aluko had made allegations of bullying and harassment against Sampson and his staff. It suggested that the FA paid her the money only because it wanted to avoid disruption in the buildup to Euro 2017, that she was making problems because she had lost her place in the squad, and that her teammates didn’t like her. In fact, the payout was for loss of earnings.
As for the report itself, Aluko calls it a shambles. “It basically said: ‘Eni lied about racism. Mark Sampson never said anything racist. The team is very happy. We’ve interviewed a lot of players, and they say it’s a great culture.’” How did she feel when she saw it? “I was gutted. Gutted. I was publicly being called a liar.”	As for the report itself, Aluko calls it a shambles. “It basically said: ‘Eni lied about racism. Mark Sampson never said anything racist. The team is very happy. We’ve interviewed a lot of players, and they say it’s a great culture.’” How did she feel when she saw it? “I was gutted. Gutted. I was publicly being called a liar.”
Does she think the FA set out to destroy her? She nods. “It wasn’t about Mark Sampson any more. It was about Eni Aluko versus the FA – David versus Goliath. The PR machine of the FA was ‘Make Eni look as bad as possible’. It was a smear campaign.”	Does she think the FA set out to destroy her? She nods. “It wasn’t about Mark Sampson any more. It was about Eni Aluko versus the FA – David versus Goliath. The PR machine of the FA was ‘Make Eni look as bad as possible’. It was a smear campaign.”
Did anything ring true? Well, she says, the report was accurate that she had become withdrawn. “I’m an optimistic, positive person normally, but I was miserable during that time. You have a lot of downtime on England camps, so I was in my room on my own trying to get through it. I didn’t really socialise with anybody.” How did she cope? “I have a strong faith in God. I’d watch stuff from my favourite preachers about opposition and how to face adversity.” Did she lose faith at any point? “No, I think my faith got stronger, because in that period that’s all I had.”	Did anything ring true? Well, she says, the report was accurate that she had become withdrawn. “I’m an optimistic, positive person normally, but I was miserable during that time. You have a lot of downtime on England camps, so I was in my room on my own trying to get through it. I didn’t really socialise with anybody.” How did she cope? “I have a strong faith in God. I’d watch stuff from my favourite preachers about opposition and how to face adversity.” Did she lose faith at any point? “No, I think my faith got stronger, because in that period that’s all I had.”
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In August 2017, Aluko told her side of the story to Daniel Taylor of the Guardian (she is now a columnist for the sports pages of this paper). She revealed that Sampson had made the Ebola comment and asked an unnamed mixed-race England player how many times she had been arrested. A month later, Spence told the FA that she was the player in question and that everything Aluko had said was true. The Professional Footballers’ Association called for a new investigation, accusing the FA of holding a “sham” review that was “not designed to establish the truth, but intended to protect Mark Sampson”.	In August 2017, Aluko told her side of the story to Daniel Taylor of the Guardian (she is now a columnist for the sports pages of this paper). She revealed that Sampson had made the Ebola comment and asked an unnamed mixed-race England player how many times she had been arrested. A month later, Spence told the FA that she was the player in question and that everything Aluko had said was true. The Professional Footballers’ Association called for a new investigation, accusing the FA of holding a “sham” review that was “not designed to establish the truth, but intended to protect Mark Sampson”.
Five days after Spence came forward, England played Russia. Every member of the team raced to the bench to celebrate with Sampson after Nikita Parris scored the opener for England in a 6-0 win. Aluko says that was when she finally cracked. “I cried my eyes out when I saw that. Players can celebrate how they want, but in the midst of the case I just thought it was too much. I felt really, really low at that point.”	Five days after Spence came forward, England played Russia. Every member of the team raced to the bench to celebrate with Sampson after Nikita Parris scored the opener for England in a 6-0 win. Aluko says that was when she finally cracked. “I cried my eyes out when I saw that. Players can celebrate how they want, but in the midst of the case I just thought it was too much. I felt really, really low at that point.”
A day later, the FA sacked Sampson out of the blue, stressing that it was nothing to do with the racism allegations. It emerged that he was forced out because of a relationship he had had with a player three years earlier when he was managing Bristol Academy. In January 2019, Sampson received a payout from the FA for unfair dismissal.	A day later, the FA sacked Sampson out of the blue, stressing that it was nothing to do with the racism allegations. It emerged that he was forced out because of a relationship he had had with a player three years earlier when he was managing Bristol Academy. In January 2019, Sampson received a payout from the FA for unfair dismissal.
A third investigation was ordered into Aluko’s allegations and, in October 2017, Newton concluded that Sampson had racially abused Aluko and Spence. While stressing that she did not regard Sampson as a racist, Newton said: “I have concluded that, on two separate occasions, Sampson has made ill-judged attempts at humour, which, as a matter of law, were discriminatory on the grounds of race within the meaning of the Equality Act 2010.” The FA apologised to Aluko and Spence.	A third investigation was ordered into Aluko’s allegations and, in October 2017, Newton concluded that Sampson had racially abused Aluko and Spence. While stressing that she did not regard Sampson as a racist, Newton said: “I have concluded that, on two separate occasions, Sampson has made ill-judged attempts at humour, which, as a matter of law, were discriminatory on the grounds of race within the meaning of the Equality Act 2010.” The FA apologised to Aluko and Spence.