Women in Sport has described the Football Association investigation into Heather Rabbatts as “deeply disappointing”, following the board member’s backing of the former Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro.
Rabbatts is facing a complaint for allegedly breaching the FA’s code of conduct after two members of the organisation’s 121-strong council, Ron Barston and Richard Tur, called for an investigation.
The head of the FA’s inclusion advisory board had criticised the association’s handling of the Carneiro case, saying she had major concerns regarding the disciplinary process which cleared José Mourinho, the Chelsea manager, of making discriminatory comments towards the doctor.
FA rules state that a formal investigation can be launched with support of just two members of its council. Barston, 82, and Tur, 70, have supported such an investigation but Women in Sport described the decision as staggering.
Ruth Holdaway, the chief executive, said: “Women in Sport is deeply disappointed to hear that FA inclusion advisory board head, Heather Rabbatts, is facing investigation for her comments surrounding the handling of the recent Eva Carneiro case.
“During a year in which the role of women in the national game has rightly been celebrated, not least for the successes of the England women’s team at this summer’s World Cup, it is staggering that members of the FA council believe it is appropriate to take action against a woman whose very role on the FA inclusion advisory board demonstrates the value of clear and diverse leadership in sport.
“Next month, Women in Sport will be releasing research concerning the representation of women at sport’s highest levels of governance. In collating this research we have heard first-hand the recognition of how important it is to get more women into sport’s leadership communities.
“Such enthusiasm is inevitably undermined by actions such as these; we hope that any investigation swiftly backs Heather Rabbatts and demonstrates the baselessness of the complaint.”
Herman Ouseley, the chairman of Kick It Out who resigned from the FA Council three years ago, believes the FA’s leadership should be supporting Rabbatts’ stance. Lord Ouseley said: “To hear that Heather Rabbatts is now being investigated for her support of Eva Carneiro is bizarre, and it shows what an antiquated body the FA council is.
“As the only female independent board member, she is in an exposed position but she is there to provide a different voice and [serve] as a figurehead for people in the game who feel the whole system is against them.
“This is a moment when the chairman of the FA, Greg Dyke, should stand up and show support for Heather Rabbatts.”
The sports minister Tracey Crouch would not comment on the investigation but said Rabbatts had done “great work” on the campaign to increase equality in English football and that people such as Carneiro should be encouraged to play a leading role in the sport.
Crouch said: “The first thing to say is that obviously it is matter for the FA. I do know that Greg Dyke is very supportive of Heather, who is doing some great work on inclusivity and trying to make sure the FA is fully representative.
“As somebody who has played football and been involved in football all my life, I believe making sure women in football is positively promoted is hugely important.
“Eva is somebody who is at the top of her profession and we want to see people like Eva get to the top of the game across all areas of football.
“Ultimately, the Eva row is a matter between her and Chelsea, it’s a club-versus-employee matter.”
