Mark Sampson verbally abused two female Uefa officials and left one fearing he would strike her with a metal pole at England Women’s Euro 2017 semi-final defeat by the Netherlands.
It has emerged that Sampson was banned for three games by Uefa after it concluded the “language he used and his attitude grossly violated the basic rules of decent conduct”. It accused him of showing an “aggressive and insulting attitude”.
Sampson was being investigated over his conduct at August’s match when he was fired by the Football Association. His dismissal was unrelated and was over “clear evidence of inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour” regarding relations with a female player in a previous job. Uefa banned him the following day.
A Uefa report said Sampson had first been verbally abusive to the venue director just before the 60th minute of England’s defeat, telling her: “You better sit down, you little shit.”
After the game Sampson was said to have told the referee liaison officer, Fijke Hoogendijk, outside the referees’ changing room: “You’re a fucking disgrace. It’s a fucking shame.”
According to Uefa’s report he then picked up a metal pole, raised it aggressively and threw it hard against the floor. “Fijke was concerned he was going to strike her,” Uefa said, adding she felt “intimidated and offended by his actions”. Sampson is then said to have shut the door to the corridor, saying: “I’m going to close the fucking door in your fucking face.”
Sampson has denied saying that but unreservedly apologised for his language during and after the match . The FA accepted he used inappropriate language but claimed he had used the pole “to close the door between the tunnel and the corridor leading to the England players’ changing room”.
