Sampson Allegations Show Overhaul Needed In Women's Football

At the start of the summer women’s football was riding high. In the build up to the European Championships, England, for the first time in a very long time (in men’s or women’s football), were one of the favourites. A crushing semi-final exit to the hosts and eventual winners, the Netherlands, ranked 12th in the world to England’s fifth at the time, ended hopes of the title.

- Suzanne Wrack

The women returned frustrated, but could come home with heads held high, Arsenal’s Jodie Taylor with the golden boot too. All talk was about the effect of the tournament on the growth of the game. Of using the success of the Lionesses to lift participation in the domestic game and boost Women’s Super League attendances.

But this success and the start of the new season have been overshadowed. Goings on off the pitch have rocked the women’s game.

The news of an £80,000 payment, seemingly hush money, to Chelsea’s Eni Aluko following a complaint she had made about racism and bullying within the England set up was leaked to the press.