Mark Sampson sacked as England women's manager
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FA chief executive explains Sampson sacking
Mark Sampson has been sacked as England women's manager following evidence of "inappropriate and unacceptable" behaviour in a previous role.
The Football Association says that last week it was made aware of the full details of safeguarding allegations against Sampson when he was Bristol Academy boss in 2014.
But a 2015 FA assessment found Sampson did not pose a risk.
Sampson was also cleared this year of wrongdoing following discrimination allegations made by England players.
The 34-year-old Welshman became England head coach in December 2013 after leaving his role as manager of top-flight side Bristol Academy, now renamed Bristol City Women.
The FA statement said: "the full report of that [2014] investigation was only brought to the attention of the current FA leadership last week.
"It is our judgement that it revealed clear evidence of inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour by a coach. It is on this basis that we have acted quickly to agree a termination of Mark's contract."
Minister for Sport Tracey Crouch said: "This situation is a mess and raises very serious questions about whether the historic processes that the FA had in place around the recruitment of coaches were appropriate, for something like this to have been missed. The FA are right to have taken action but reassurance is needed to make sure this does not happen again at any level of coaching."
Sampson's England side beat Russia 6-0 in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday and he led the Lionesses to successive semi-finals at major tournaments.
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I'm not a racist - Sampson FA investigation
Last week, the FA announced it was to re-open its investigation into separate discrimination claims against Sampson, first made in 2016.
Sampson was alleged to have asked mixed race England midfielder Drew Spence whether she had been arrested during a tournament in 2015, a claim which he denied.
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Eniola Aluko speaks to BBC sports editor Dan Roan
The claim was first made by Spence's England and Chelsea team-mate Eniola Aluko, and Spence has now submitted written evidence to support it.
In a further separate allegation, Aluko said Sampson told her to make sure her Nigerian relatives did not "bring Ebola" to an England game at Wembley in 2014.
Two investigations - one internal FA inquiry and one independent review led by barrister Katharine Newton - cleared Sampson of any wrongdoing.
Senior FA executives are set to face a parliamentary inquiry over the investigations after Aluko initially raised a "bullying and harassment" grievance against Sampson in response to an internal cultural review.
Aluko, who has 102 caps and is a qualified lawyer, and fellow England forward Lianne Sanderson have been invited to give evidence to the select committee hearing planned for mid-October.
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Celebration was a statement - Nikita Parris Aluko, who 33 goals in 102 games, added that she was content to be out of the England set-upSupport for Sampson
England captain Steph Houghton came out in support of her head coach earlier in September but said the allegations had "hit the squad very hard".
"Since Mark has been in charge I've enjoyed every moment," Houghton, 29, told BBC Sport.
"I'm disappointed because women's football has come a long way over the past four or five years and we pride ourselves on inspiring the next generation," she said.
Meanwhile, on the eve of England's opening World Cup qualifier against Russia, striker Jodie Taylor said the squad had been brought "together" by the allegations.
She added: "Mark Sampson has been fantastic for my career."
Former England women defender Alex Scott told BBC Radio 5 live that Sampson had "the most open-door policy" she has ever experienced.
Scott, who is of mixed race and played 140 times for England, added: "If anyone ever had a problem he was open to new ideas."
Who's next to coach England?
Tom Garry, BBC Sport
Not only for his recent success at Manchester City, but for his desire to bring through English players, Nick Cushing will be a strong candidate, having won the WSL title in 2016 and the Women's FA Cup in May with a squad built largely with Lionesses.
Yet there will be many within the game who feel the job should go to a female coach and, in that regard, the FA are spoilt for choice.
Chelsea Ladies boss Emma Hayes is the most successful current female boss in the WSL, winning the double in 2015 and the Spring Series in June, but she can be outspoken and may not see eye-to-eye with all at the FA.
From among the recent and current crop of England stars, record goalscorer Kelly Smith and defender Casey Stoney could well be considered, but with their relative lack of coaching experience, appointing either of them would be a gamble.
Reading boss Kelly Chambers is also popular with many current Lionesses, while former Arsenal boss Laura Harvey - currently head coach of Seattle Reign - would be viable, along with ex-Leeds boss Gemma Grainger - part of Sampson's coaching team.
Alternatives include the current Canada women national team boss John Herdman - from County Durham - who has earned good credit for lifting Canada up to fifth in the world, while Englishman Colin Bell won the 2014-15 Champions League with Frankfurt.
But replacing Sampson will not be easy. While the Welshman appears to have divided fans since the Euros, he is held in high regard among other coaches within the game.
You can now add WSL 1 alerts for goals and results in the BBC Sport app.
Source: bbc.com
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