Mark Sampson (former England Women’s Football Team Head Coach) successfully defends FA charge of improper conduct

The FA today published their decision in the matter of The FA v Mark Sampson.

Mark, at the time Caretaker Manager of Stevenage FC, was charged by the FA in November 2019 with an aggravated breach of discipline relating to an alleged racist comment attributed to him by the Club’s former manager and goal keeping coach.  The allegations were made against him following their dismissal by the Club in September 2019 and shortly after Mark had been appointed Caretaker Manager.

Mark requested a personal hearing and following a two day hearing before an independent Commission over the course of 9 and 10 January 2020 the charges were held to be not proven and the case against Mark dismissed.

Mark was represented by John Reid and Charlotte Adams of Russells Solicitors, who instructed Nick de Marco of Blackstone Chambers before the Commission.

John Reid said:  “I am delighted for Mark that the Commission have dismissed the charges brought against him.  This has been hanging over Mark for some months and although it was a challenging case given the way that the allegations had been made against him I have never doubted that Mark did not make the comment attributed to him and am very pleased that the Commission agreed with us that the charges could not be made out and should be dismissed.“

Further info: http://www.thefa.com/news/2020/jan/20/mark-sampson-charge-not-proven-201020