England football team's diversity consultant at the centre of official FA investigation
The England football team’s diversity consultant is the subject of a formal FA investigation amid bullying allegations first revealed by Sportsmail.
Just 12 days after our revelation that the governing body’s director of international relations, corporate affairs and co-partner for equality, diversity and inclusion Edleen John, one of the organisation’s most senior members of staff, was the subject of a written complaint, we can now disclose the executive is at the centre of an official internal probe at the FA.
This newspaper revealed on March 10 that John had been accused of bullying and intimidating behaviour by a colleague.
FA senior director Edleen John is the subject of a formal FA investigation after she was accused of bullying by a colleague
Since our disclosure, it is understood the the FA’s human relations team have contacted a number of employees about John’s conduct and behaviour.
It is understood the feedback has been compelling enough for the FA to conclude the initial complaint may not have been an isolated incident and thus decided to open a formal enquiry.
Furthermore, since news of the complaint emerged, Sportsmail has learned of similar issues from individuals outside the FA with regards to John.
The director, who has returned to England after representing the FA at the Soccerex conference in Miami last week, and complainants have been informed of the investigation, a formality that officially activates the enquiry.
When asked for comment, an FA spokesperson said: ‘This is a private employee matter.’
John (centre) with England Women’s players Nikita Harris (left) and Lucy Bronze (right) at St George’s Park in 2021
At the time of the original complaint being raised, the employee insisted it should not be treated as a formal grievance so to protect John from any formal disciplinary action.
But the situation has escalated in recent days with the organisation now deciding to act.
That opens up the possibility of John, who has helped the FA to deliver a host of initiatives aimed at improving equality, diversity and inclusion in English football, facing possible disciplinary procedures if the investigation does not go in her favour.
In a statement released to Sportsmail in response to the original complaint, John said earlier this month: ‘At the heart of who I am, I’m an activist and am direct in my communication style.
‘As a senior Black woman joining the football-industry in the middle of a pandemic, I am honoured that The FA empowered me to try to be a change agent.
‘A challenge of driving change is that sometimes, I have to be uncomfortably direct. I ask the questions that no-one wants to ask. I have difficult conversations about topics that people haven’t engaged on for centuries and doing that can mean pushing boundaries and people.
John told Sportsmail that she had been ‘uncomfortably direct’ with colleagues
‘Am I 100 percent perfect in how I always deliver those messages? Far from it. Have I always got my tone completely right or pondered the depth of someone’s feelings when a bigger mission was at hand? Not always.
‘Have I ever wanted anyone to feel intimidated? Absolutely not.
‘And do I hold myself accountable if I make mistakes or wake-up every day and strive to be better, like any other leader? Absolutely.
‘My intention is never to make anyone feel anything other than that we have a goal to achieve in driving towards collective positive change and better representation across our industry.
‘I have and always will listen to feedback and continue to grow daily as a leader and I hope that the leeway and scope that we as society afford strong, opinionated and vocal Black women continues to grow with me.’
John joined the FA in September 2020 and her influence has grown considerably ever since
John joined the FA in September 2020 and her influence has grown considerably ever since.
She played a key role in delivering the FA’s historic Football Diversity Leadership Code and has been heavily involved in the compilation of a presentation on the issue of Qatar’s human rights record that will be shown to Gareth Southgate’s squad at St George’s Park this week – but she won’t be involved in delivering the message.
The respected executive is also scheduled to fly to Qatar as part of the FA’s senior delegation for the World Cup draw next month – but it now remains to be seen if she still travels.
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