Soccer

FA chief urges corruption crackdown after Sam Allardyce scandal

Allardyce managed England for only one game
Allardyce managed England for only one game Allardyce managed England for only one game

Football Association chairman Greg Clarke has urged all groups representing interests within the professional game to unite to stamp out corruption.

Clarke revealed a “fundamental review” of the governing body’s disciplinary processes was already under way before the Daily Telegraph’s revelations this week.

Sam Allardyce lost his England job after being filmed making damaging remarks on a range of issues, while the newspaper also separately alleged that 10 unnamed managers took bribes in player transfers.

Clarke stressed there was a limit to what the FA could achieve without judicial powers, and said sources within the game must work together to combat unscrupulous elements.

Clarke, who replaced Greg Dyke as FA chairman earlier this month, told the Daily Telegraph: “I’ve put all these issues to the board and suggested that we have a fundamental review of our disciplinary processes and they’ve agreed to that and that’s happening.

“(It’s) not just the FA. We need to consult with the professional game, and say, ‘Come on guys. We need to work together on this one, because none of us want bad guys on the take in our game’. “

Clarke admitted there needed to more clarity over what is expected of England managers after specific criticism over Allardyce’s apparent willingness to court a £400,000 consultancy opportunity.

He added: “What we need to do as part of the new process is to figure out what we want and then figure out how to specifically exclude areas of conflict in a way that doesn’t oppress the individual.

“If a big sporting organisation wants to pay the England manager five grand to speak and he’s got the evening off, should we stop him?

“People who turn up to discuss strange deals, with strange people they’ve never met, are looking for trouble, and that’s what we’ve got to eliminate. Because, if it’s open and upfront, they can come in by the front door.”

Clarke stressed there will be no rush to appoint a permanent successor to Allardyce, with Gareth Southgate having been given the job on an interim basis for the next four games.