Pressure is mounting on the Football Association to publish findings of the independent investigation into David Elleray.
i revealed this week that participants in the FA-commissioned independent investigation into Elleray’s conduct, being led by solicitor Leigh Barnett of law-firm Parker Bullen, had been told that the governing body does not intend to publish the final report publicly.
Former referee Reuben Simon, co-founder of the BAME Referees Support group and a Level 3 official on the FA’s national list until eight years ago, said that in his opinion should the FA fail to publish the Elleray Report it “will make many feel it suggests the FA would want to cover up the findings of what’s really been going on within FA’s referee department.” He added: “What they do next will tell you everything you need to know”.
Charity Ref Support UK, who campaign for officials to receive better treatment, also said on Wednesday: “We’re very concerned to be informed that the findings of the independent investigation are intended to not be made public.
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“A significant amount of people have come forward and their voice must be heard.
“Leigh Barnett has been very professional and diligent throughout this process.”
Simon, who is well-known in the referee community, conducted a poll on his Twitter account in which 94 per cent of the 71 respondents at time of writing voted that the FA should “be open and transparent” about the findings of Barnett’s investigation.
An FA spokesperson said: “We are not in a position to comment further at this stage due to an ongoing independent investigation.”
i first revealed in December that, following fresh allegations of historical racism made to the FA about Elleray, the governing body had commissioned Parker Bullen to conduct an independent investigation.
But former FA employees who have contributed to Barnett’s investigation are dismayed that the final report may not be made public.
Martin Cassidy, a former employee in the FA’s referee department and now chief executive of Ref Support UK, said on Tuesday: “I can’t talk about what I’ve said to the investigation. However, I’m disappointed that I have been informed that the FA do not plan to make the findings of the investigation public.”
After the independent investigation was commissioned it emerged that Elleray, 67, intends to step down at the end of the current season and will resign as chairman of the FA’s referee department.
Elleray is a former leading Premier League referee, chair of the FA’s referees committee and considered by many as a gatekeeper of English referees. As technical director at the International Football Association Board he has significant influence over the rules of the game.
In 2014, he was made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to football and also spent13 years as President of the Referees’ Association, a role he retired from in 2017.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/DS2WkBc
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