England kit man suspended over ‘attack’ as aide hit with sex pest claims
Chief kitman Mark Simkin and one of his employees have recently been put on leave after female workers came forward to report separate allegations of abuse
AN England football team aide has been suspended in a sex pest scandal after two women claimed he lifted up their tops.
His boss, chief kitman Mark Simkin, 55, was also suspended for allegedly slapping one of the women laundry workers with a ruler in a separate incident.
The women say the aide exposed their bras.
They claim the incidents happened at a warehouse that stores kits for all England football teams.
Simkin, 55, is in charge of the depot — but it is not known if he was present when it is claimed his colleague behaved inappropriately.
But he was suspended for two months as the FA investigated the claim he struck one of the women with a ruler, making her cry.
Simkin, Three Lions kitman for at least ten years, returned to work on Friday.
The unnamed backroom worker remains suspended while the FA inquiry continues.
A source said: “These allegations have taken a long time to be investigated — the female staff involved are really upset.
“One of the girls had been in tears when it happened.
“It’s ridiculous what’s been going on and no way for an organisation like the FA to be managed.”
Simkin, who travels with the England team, is also its Operations Manager.
England manager Gareth Southgate agreed last week that Simkin would be allowed to travel with the team to this summer’s World Cup in Russia.
Simkin has previously been pictured at the FA’s £105million St George’s Park training camp in Burton-upon-Trent, Staffs.
He has travelled to every World Cup and Euros as head kitman for the past eight years.
In 2010 he was described as the man in charge of organising the shipping of 12 tons of equipment to South Africa for the World Cup.
He refused to comment at his home in Stafford yesterday.
He said: “Sorry, you need to go through the FA.” An FA spokesman said: “The FA can confirm that there is an ongoing investigation and a member of staff is currently suspended.
“It would not be appropriate to comment further.”
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It is believed FA employees have made statements as part of the investigation into the allegations.
In September the FA was forced to sack England women’s coach Mark Sampson — saying there was “clear evidence of inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour” with female players while he was working at Bristol Academy.
England striker Eni Aluko also alleged the coach had bullied her and made racist remarks.
A FA investigation cleared Sampson of racism allegations. In October the FA apologised to Aluko after an independent inquiry ruled that Sampson had made racially discriminatory comments to her.
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