Equality experts show FA a yellow card for 'appalling' treatment of Eni Aluko

The Football Association "risks losing public confidence" over its handling of the crisis surrounding ex-England women's team manager Mark Sampson, according to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

And the Women in Football (WiF) campaign group has branded the FA's treatment of England striker and Sampson whistle-blower Eni Aluko "appalling".

In a statement, EHRC executive director Alastair Pringle said: " Football is lauded as 'the beautiful game' but it risks being turned ugly with allegations of discrimination, racism and bullying at its core.

"If players of all races, religions and backgrounds do not feel supported and protected then football cannot be considered a sport for all.

"The FA risks losing public confidence if it does not eradicate discrimination and forge an open and transparent culture to demonstrate that athletes' well-being is prioritised."

That withering assessment of the FA was echoed by WiF, who have supported Aluko since she was dropped from the England squad by Sampson in May 2016, soon after she complained about his behaviour towards her in what she thought was a confidential 'cultural review'.

A WiF statement said: " We applaud her commitment to unearthing the truth, her fortitude throughout and her vision to make football a better place for others.

"It is appalling that her efforts saw a stellar playing career derailed by the very system that was meant to protect her."

The group, now 10 years old, noted that Aluko's case is depressingly familiar, as research shows more than six in 10 women witness sexism in the workplace but fewer than one in 10 report it.

" Why? Because they fear they will not be taken seriously. Time and again it is proved that they are not," WiF said.

"In 2017, women in the football industry should not be treated as second-class citizens. Their complaints should not be routinely ignored and dismissed, as their abusers are protected.

"Women deserve to be listened to, respected and supported. Football will be a better place for it.

"WiF hopes the FA understands this challenge and purposeful progress is now achieved."

Earlier on Thursday, former FA chairman David Bernstein told BBC Radio 5 Live he thought the Sampson affair was an "accident waiting to happen", while former England assistant manager Gary Neville called for chief executive Martin Glenn and technical director Dan Ashworth to keep their jobs.

He conceded that he felt the FA was a "shambles from a governance point of view" but said: "It definitely needs radical change and reforming but I don't want that to be mistaken for a couple of individuals.

"Martin Glenn and Dan Ashworth are good people with the right credentials to do their job at the Football Association. They are trying (to make it a modern organisation) and it's difficult to turn a ship quickly."

There was also sympathy from another FA old boy, Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson.

Speaking to reporters at the Palace training ground, the former England manager said: " I sympathise, I empathise with the people in the situation, of course, because I worked with them and know them, but it's really not my business at all."

He did, however, raise one issue flagged up in the independent investigation into Sampson's behaviour, which said the Welshman struggled to judge boundaries when using "banter" with players.

Hodgson, who had to apologise while England manager for making an innocent joke about a monkey during a team talk about how to use Andros Townsend, said: " You certainly have to be very careful. I'm not 100 per cent certain what the word 'banter' means.

"Anything other than friendly and not regarded by the person on the receiving end of the banter as something positive has got to be regarded as a negative."