Mark Sampson’s off-field issues continued to overshadow the England women’s team after their 6-0 World Cup qualifying win against Russia descended into a row between former and current players.
All 11 outfield players sprinted over and mobbed the England manager after Nikita Parris scored the opening goal on 11 minutes, but Chelsea forward Eni Aluko tweeted that she felt ‘disrespected’ by their actions.
Aluko’s accusations of bullying, harassment and racism, first revealed by Sportsmail, have cast a dark cloud over Sampson and the squad in the build-up to this match.
Toni Duggan scored twice as England Women hammered Russia women in a 6-0 drubbing
Nikita Parris opened the scoring for the Lionesses just 11 minutes into the piece
The forward then rounded up her team-mates to celebrate with under-fire boss Mark Sampson
Eni Aluko made clear her stance on the celebration in Twitter post following Paris’s goal
Jodie Taylor then side-footed home to double the hosts’ lead just three minutes later
Then goals from Jordan Nobbs, Lucy Bronze and Duggan ensured the result for Sampson’s side
Aluko has not been called up by Sampson since she lodged an emailed complaint in May last year.
Although two investigations cleared Sampson of wrong-doing, the Football Association still paid Aluko £80,000 hush money.
The highs of reaching the semi-finals of the European Championships in the summer were followed by the lows of Aluko’s complaint.
Sampson has repeatedly denied the accusations, but less than a week before this match Drew Spence became the second player to officially lodge a racism complaint, re-opening the previously flawed investigation.
Following the exuberant celebration, Aluko tweeted: ’For the most together team in the world tonight’s “message” only shows a level of disrespect that represents division and selfish action,’ while she also pointed out the same players voted for her to represent them in discussions with the Football Association about central contracts.
Sampson admitted allegations of bullying, harassment and racism were taking their toll
But Parris showed the group were all behind the boss as she sprinted to him after the opener
Before Taylor heaped more misery on the Russians as the visitors struggled to handle the pace
Ksenia Tsybutovich was sent off after seeing a second yellow for handling the ball
Fran Kirby, who was sensational all night, managed to miss the resulting penalty kick
But goal-scorer Parris responded: ’I can’t celebrate on behalf of Eni I can only celebrate on behalf of myself and how I feel in that moment. I’m not here to disrespect anyone, I’m just here to show how happy I am to be in this squad and to score for England.’ She added: ‘The celebration came naturally, it shows we’re a united team.’
Former England forward Lianne Sanderson, who has also spoken out about her treatment by Sampson, also tweeted: ‘I’m actually lost for words and feel physically sickened by all of this. They successfully manipulated the players into a them against us. Never once have we disrespected any of the girls with what’s going on but I find some people’s actions highly offensive and distasteful.’
Sampson admitted in the build-up to the game that the allegations against him have taken their toll emotionally but he could not have wished for a better response on the pitch. Jodie Taylor, Jordan Nobbs, Lucy Bronze and a Toni Duggan double secured a six-goal victory against their main rivals for top spot and automatic qualification for the 2019 France World Cup.
But atoned for her error by setting up Jordan Nobbs to hammer home the third of the night
Lucy Bronze then whacked in an 18-yard stunner as England send their fourth past Russia
Russia were reduced to 10 players in the 31st minute when Ksenia Tsybutovich was dismissed for a second yellow for handling Fran Kirby’s shot inside the penalty area, but the England forward had her penalty saved.
Sampson refused to respond to Aluko’s comments but admitted: ‘It has been difficult for everyone, that’s for sure. It’s not been an easy situation and it is a serious situation and we’re trying our best to be respectful.’
He insisted he did not know the players were planning on celebrating with him in that manner. ‘I didn’t know anything was coming in terms of that,’ he said. ‘Our focus was on the game and the initial joy of scoring the opening goal in a big World Cup qualifier against Russia. It’s not something that is usual, it was something different.’
Samspon’s problems, however, are not going away, with Spence due to meet with barrister Katharine Newton to be interviewed about her allegations and the FA facing questions about their handling of the case at a parliamentary inquiry next month
Bronze celebrates with fellow goalscorer Taylor as the Lionesses take a 4-0 lead into the break
And it was Duggan’s late brace which heaped more misery on the visitors in the 6-0 thrashing