Racism claims a 'kick in the teeth' for women's game, says TNS player Charlotte Canlett

So claims that the manager of England’s women’s team used “bullying and discrimination” against players have shaken the game.

Star striker Eni Aluko made racism claims against Mark Sampson earlier this week – and calls were made by the Professional Footballers Association for a fresh investigation into previous allegations of bullying during her time in the England squad.

It has led to a Shropshire player saying that the claims are a knock-back for the women’s game.

Charlotte Canlett, who plays for Oswestry-based The New Saints women’s team, said the fall-out has been “extremely damaging".

Aluko claimed in an interview that when she told Sampson she had family from Nigeria coming to watch a game, he replied: “Make sure they don’t bring Ebola with them.”

Sampson, who led England to a World Cup semi-final this summer, has vehemently denied the allegations and he was cleared of wrongdoing by two investigations.

Charlotte said: “The claims are a knock-back for the women’s game. I think the women’s game is a lot more emotional than the men’s game, and different managers always have different styles.

“But I’m not sure about a few of the original bullying claims. I have never seen bullying while playing here or in America, but I have seen managers single players out.

"But that is to get the best out of the player. When I have been singled out it helps to make me a better player.”

But she fears the fallout from the allegations will have a negative impact on the game.

The Football Association has continued to give its full backing to Sampson. It was believed Sampson would directly address the claims when he names his squad to face Russia, but he has been assured he will continue to be defended by the FA, which believes the matter is closed after two previous investigations cleared him of wrongdoing.

Charlotte, who has represented Everton and Lee University in Tennessee, USA, said after the way the game has grown in England in the last 10 years the claims will be a big setback.

She said: “Our game has come such a long way in recent years, and the super league has really taken off.”

Earlier this week shadow sports minister Dr Rosena Allin-Khan has joined anti-racism group Kick It Out and the Professional Footballers’ Association in calling for a new investigation into Aluko’s complaints. Sampson, 34, was cleared by two investigations – the first an internal FA review and the second an independent inquiry, commissioned by the FA but led by barrister Katharine Newton.

Speaking publicly about the matter for the first time this week, Aluko made a further allegation against Sampson, claiming he told the Chelsea and England striker to make sure her Nigerian relatives did not bring the Ebola virus to a game at Wembley in 2014.

Responding to this new allegation, and questions Aluko has raised about the two investigations, Dr Allin-Khan said: “The claims made by Eniola Aluko are deeply worrying. This is why I believe a new investigation is necessary.

“At a time when the FA need to be doing all they can to attract young women and people from minority backgrounds into football, they need to be open and transparent. Young girls look up to players like Eniola as role models – their aspirations will quickly diminish if they lose trust in the people at the top of the sport.”

The MP for Tooting concluded her statement by saying the case also reveals the importance of having greater diversity in positions of authority at the FA to “empower a whole new generation to feel like our national game represents them”.

The FA has declined to add to last week’s statement that set out its support for Sampson and included a link to the detailed summary of her investigation that Newton sent to Aluko in March. But it is understood that the governing body believes the matter has been properly investigated, Sampson has twice been cleared, he has the current squad’s backing and his reputation is now being unfairly tarnished.

In her letter to Aluko, Newton wrote: “I consider that you genuinely believe you have been treated in this manner, however I do not consider there is sufficient evidence to support that belief or to draw an inference of discrimination. I consider that Mark Sampson has non-discriminatory explanations for his conduct, which I accept.

“There are certain areas where certain matters could have been handled better and the communication improved and I have indicated what those are.”

In last week’s FA statement Sampson said he “appreciated” the fact that Newton’s reported flagged up improvements he could make to his “general communication style” and it is something he is working on.

Newton’s assessment of Sampson was backed on Tuesday by Lianne Sanderson, another former England player who did give evidence to both the internal and the independent investigations.