Mark Sampson, the former England women's team manager and now interim manager of Stevenage has received a charge from the FA as follows:


Mark Sampson has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3.

It is alleged that a comment made by the Stevenage FC caretaker manager breached FA Rule E3(1) as it was improper and/or abusive and/or insulting.

It is further alleged that the comment also constitutes an ‘aggravated breach’, which is defined in FA Rule E3(2), as it referenced ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race and/or nationality.

He has until 6 December 2019 to provide a response to the charge.


Stevenage have held their own enquiry and determined there is no charge to answer. It apparently relates to a discussion about a potential signing who Sampson said they shouldn't sign because he is Nigerian.

Strikes me as a nasty piece of work

Let's see what he has said before stoning him to death..

I wonder can a club be institutionally biased against players of different nationalities and ethnicities? Can a club, year after year, have a playing squad notably an outlier in its league in terms of the 'diversity' therein without there being some question about why?

thatdberight wrote:I wonder can a club be institutionally biased against players of different nationalities and ethnicities? Can a club, year after year, have a playing squad notably an outlier in its league in terms of the 'diversity' therein without there being some question about why?

*looks nervously at our squad*

Am I the only one who thought the OP was about Him off BGT who won the 2nd series . Then realised that was George Sampson

Local cricketer wrote:Strikes me as a nasty piece of work

That was Sampsons view on the player in Question.....nothing new many on here didn't want James McLean

thatdberight wrote:I wonder can a club be institutionally biased against players of different nationalities and ethnicities? Can a club, year after year, have a playing squad notably an outlier in its league in terms of the 'diversity' therein without there being some question about why?

Fine to question it, but the answer is our scouting is largely domestic and because Dyche values personality and fit, its more likely domestic based players fit that mould.

Its not institutional bias, its just the way we have to work.

Without knowing who the player was.
If plays for the Nigerian national team.
Could it be a reference to the African league of nations.
How many Prem teams loose players because this comp runs when our league's are running.
Then again it could be because he as issues but without the knowledge of the full conversation!.

There are many reasons not to sign players from particular countries/continents etc.

One may be distance, when they go away for an international or the volume of internationals.

In a twisted way could that be construed as racist?

If a club has a small squad, such criteria could be very important. Nothing to do with race or colour etc but the practicality of the squad needs.

He’s really upset someone at the fa hasn’t he?

Giftonsnoidea wrote:He’s really upset someone at the fa hasn’t he?

Witch Hunt.

Perhaps he’d had previous experience with a Nigerian Prince or ex govt finance minister offering him a 30% cut of 100 million dollars ? All for a small admin fee

IanMcL wrote:There are many reasons not to sign players from particular countries/continents etc.

One may be distance, when they go away for an international or the volume of internationals.

In a twisted way could that be construed as racist?

If a club has a small squad, such criteria could be very important. Nothing to do with race or colour etc but the practicality of the squad needs.

Good points and that kind of lets us off the hook a bit because Chris Wood has to go to the other side of the world to play home games for his country.

tim_noone wrote:Witch Hunt.

The accusation arose a few days after Sampson released goalkeeping coach Ali Uzunhasanoglu shortly after Sampson took over the Managers role when Dino Maamria was sacked. Bitter ex-employee syndrome?

houseboy wrote:Good points and that kind of lets us off the hook a bit because Chris Wood has to go to the other side of the world to play home games for his country.

I think unavailability is a reasonable thing to consider.

I am not even floating any intimation of prejudice against the club or individuals. But we are an outlier. The combination of very few non-British Isles players and less representation of black players within the British Isles players than other clubs (although the squad's probably a reasonable reflection of the general population) make us different. Doesn't mean it's necessarily wrong or sinister. But it's interesting. Just like a preponderance of left-footers or red-headed players or players born in February would be.

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