21/06/2005

Former FA secretary's tribunal opens

Former Football Association secretary Faria Alam, has accused a senior FA executive of sexual harassment at a tribunal.

The 38-year-old, who resigned from her position last Augustm following revelations of affairs with both England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson and former FA chief executive Mark Palios, told the tribunal that FA exceutive director David Davies sexually harassed her.

Ms Alam also told the hearing, at the Central London Employment Tribunal, that Mr Eriksson asked her to lie about their relationship if anyone at the FA asked her about it.

Ms Alam is accusing the FA of constructive dismissal, as well as sexual discrimination, breach of contract and giving her unequal pay. She is understood to be seeking around £30,000 in compensation.

Last year’s revelations also led to Mr Palios losing his job, followed by FA communications director Colin Gibson.

It was alleged that Mr Gibson had approached the ‘News of the World’ newspaper and offered to give them details of Ms Alam’s affair with Mr Eriksson, provided the paper did not mention Mr Palios in the story.

However, the newspaper reported Mr Gibson’s alleged attempt to arrange a deal with the paper - a story led to an independent review of the entire Football Association.

Mr Gibson and Mr Davies are both expected to give evidence at the tribunal, although Mr Eriksson will not have to appear. An internal inquiry held last year by the FA ruled that Mr Eriksson had “no case to answer” over his conduct.

(KMcA/SP)


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