Sampson was sacked not, say the FA, for allegations of racism and bullying – but because of evidence of “inappropriate and unacceptable” behaviour three years ago.
It has emerged that allegations around inappropriate relationships with female players were made against Sampson in 2014 while he was in charge of Bristol Academy women’s team.
An independent report concluded a year later that Sampson “posed no risk” to those working in the game – but the full report was only put before FA chief executive Martin Glenn and chairman Greg Clarke last week after external sources approached the organisation with concerns.
Both men, along with the FA board, made the decision on Monday to sack him – but still allowed him to take charge of the Lionesses 6-0 win over Russia in their World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.
Such a shambles piles more pressure on the FA and Sports Minister Tracey Crouch slammed their handling of the affair.
“This situation is a mess and raises very serious questions about whether the historic processes the FA had in place around the recruitment of coaches were appropriate, for something like this to have been missed,” she said.
“The FA are right to have taken action but reassurance is needed to make sure this does not happen again at any level of coaching.”
It is another huge embarrassment for football’s governing body, who were forced to sack men’s boss Sam Allardyce for “inappropriate conduct” almost exactly 12 months ago. Dismissing another manager for non-football matters leaves the game’s governing body in turmoil.
Sampson, who led England’s women to the semi-finals of the 2015 World Cup, the 2017 Euros and had a 66 per cent win rate, was twice cleared of allegations of racism by independent inquiries. Sampson has always denied all the allegations.
But days after fresh allegations were made, the FA have acted on evidence from three years ago.
Glenn said: “We know that coaches are in a potential position of power and that position mustn’t be abused. We believe he breached the professional boundaries between player and coach.
“He is not deemed a safeguarding risk in football but to us it’s a conduct issue. The standards we set in the FA would not be compatible. Is it appropriate for him to coach again? How can it be?”
FA chairman Greg Clarke said: “Having read the report in detail there are different allegations about different things which is why we’re talking in the plural. Some could be categorised as trivial and some as very serious and none could be categorised as criminal.”
And Glenn added: “My personal learning and regret was that I was made aware there had been an inquiry in October 2015. It was a very perfunctory and verbal report by a head of safeguarding to say that he had been investigated and that he had been cleared to work as a participant in football.
“I guess my mistake was that I took at face value the details of the case were confidential. If I had known then what I know now I would have probed further.
“I just want to reiterate that it’s not an illegal issue, nothing illegal to our knowledge took place. It’s an issue about the relationship between coach and players.”
Glenn denied conveniently disposing of a manager under increasing pressure after Eniola Aluko’s recent discrimination claims.
Sampson, who was put on a “development and mentoring programme” as a result of the original investigation, will be paid under the terms of a termination clause in his contract.
The FA have also announced a full review into what happened and must now begin the search for his successor.
