Jill Scott defies criticism of England players’ hugs for Mark Sampson

Jill Scott believes England’s players should not be condemned for having embraced their former manager Mark Sampson on the touchline at Tranmere last month. The midfielder remains annoyed by the resultant criticism from those who interpreted the gesture as an insult to Eni Aluko and feels they are pointing fingers from positions of ignorance.

“I don’t like it when our integrity is questioned,” said Scott, a key influence for England and Manchester City, following Friday night’s 1-0 friendly defeat against France here. “We’re not just players, we’re human beings and we stand up for what we stand for. It was a very heartfelt response. It’s hard for people on the outside to judge because they didn’t know what we’d all been through in the previous few months. It’s very disappointing to see our integrity questioned.”

On Wednesday, the Football Association apologised to Aluko and her Chelsea team-mate Drew Spence for Sampson’s racially discriminatory remarks. The coach was described as having made unacceptably “ill-judged attempts at humour” by an investigating barrister Katharine Newton, who nonetheless did not conclude that he was racist.

Aluko criticised her former English team-mates after they raced to hug Sampson when Nikita Parris scored the opening goal of their 6-0 World Cup qualifying win against Russia at Prenton Park. “For the most together team in the world tonight’s ‘message’ only shows a level of disrespect that represents division and selfish action,” the striker posted on Twitter.

There is belief that an England side now under the caretaker management of Mo Marley should apologise to Aluko, who has not played internationally since the spring of 2016, shortly after she raised complaints about Sampson as part of an internal FA review. Scott, though, sees the events of the night before Sampson was unexpectedly sacked for his “unacceptable” relationships with players in a previous job at Bristol Academy differently.

“That week in particular was very hard,” she said. “It’s not just about the players it’s about seeing what the families of those involved go through. That celebration was the team showing their togetherness. We all celebrated, the team, the bench, everybody. It was emotional and spontaneous and I don’t think it’s something anyone else can really comment on. They didn’t live in our culture and our environment through that period. It was a very heartfelt response – and an emotional one.”

After being repeatedly asked if there was reason to regret the way it can now be regarded, she replied: “It’s one of them,” she said. “The people within our environment in those few months are the only ones who can judge it. It was a celebration for what we went through. We can’t go back or change anything. We have to go forwards.”

Scott got on well with Sampson and when asked if she viewed her former coach as a victim, an FA press officer hastily blocked the question. She did, however, tackle suggestions that the squad are robotic and brainwashed. “It’s frustrating,” said Scott. “We’re certainly not that. We have fantastic people here and it’s very unfair to say that. It’s wrong to question our integrity.”

She is also concerned about the affair’s potential to damage women’s football. “It’s a worry,” she said. “We want to inspire young girls to play this game.”

Despite losing to an 89th-minute goal, England were quietly impressive and Scott said she would like Marley, the former Under-19’s coach, to succeed Sampson. “Mo’s fantastic,” she said. “I cannot speak highly enough of her.”

Marley has applied for the job and will be shortlisted before interviews starting on 4 December in front of Sue Campbell, the FA’s head of women’s football, and Dan Ashworth, the technical director.

A headhunter thought to specialise in another sport has assisted with encouraging the FA to think outside the box as it sifts through applications from a substantial number of contenders.

A committee of senior players – Steph Houghton, Casey Stoney, Jordan Nobbs and another still to be appointed – will be invited to present their views on the appointment to Campbell and Ashworth.