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Supposedly the current FA leadership only just read the report in full although the investigation took place in 2014. Apparently it was brought to their attention because of the current allegations, which include the reopening of an investigation into the treatment of Drew Spence in 2016.

There are also rumours that the decision came suddenly after recently 'clearing' Sampson because certain newspapers are about to release highly embarrassing details of the treatment of young women by Sampson at Bristol Academy. The timing of any newspaper investigations would obviously not be a coincidence after the recent high profile backing of Sampson by the FA and his remaining team.

You aren't the only person asking why the FA ever picked Sampson as manager after the findings of the Bristol Academy investigation - apparently the FA are going to have to answer difficult questions over the matter in parliament and ensure that going forward better checks are in place before such appointments.

Also, while I mentioned that Sampson had already been cleared by the FA over the Aluko claims he was simply cleared of allegations regarding the systematic bullying of Aluko and others. Aluko was already paid an £80,000 settlement including a confidentiality clause over various incidents (including the ebola comment) that were not disputed by Sampson or the FA.

Sampson was clearly a great manager and I don't know exactly what happened or if he deserved to be sacked - but I suspect a lot of details are going to come out over the coming days and I'm certainly not going to back him before I've heard them. But regardless, I still think this is about a lot more than an alleged racist comment towards one person who didn't get in the team and a black person hugging him isn't going to make it all right.

Latest news

The following are highlights from the article;

Sampson was sacked on Wednesday after evidence emerged of "inappropriate and unacceptable" behaviour with female players in a previous role.

The FA statement said: "The full report of that [2014] investigation was only brought to the attention of the current FA leadership last week. It is our judgement that it revealed clear evidence of inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour by a coach. It is on this basis that we have acted quickly to agree a termination of Mark's contract."

FA chief executive Martin Glenn was questioned by the BBC on Wednesday as to whether Sampson had been asked to declare at his interview whether anything embarrassing could emerge about his past. Glenn replied: "What we understand from the files is you tick a box, is there anything that needs to be known? That was ticked 'no'."

Minister for Sport Tracey Crouch said: "This situation is a mess and raises very serious questions about whether the historic processes that the FA had in place around the recruitment of coaches were appropriate, for something like this to have been missed. 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."