Ex-Fulham women's boss says players were 'protected' from Mohamed Al Fayed

Late erstwhile Fulham proprietor Mohamed Al Fayed has been accused of intersexual battle by respective women who worked astatine luxury London section store Harrods

The erstwhile manager of Fulham women says his players were protected from precocious proprietor Mohamed Al Fayed - and that allegations of intersexual maltreatment against him are 'no surprise'.

Gaute Haugenes, who took complaint of the Cottagers' women's broadside betwixt 2001 and 2003, says unit astatine the nine were alert that tycoon Al Fayed 'liked young, blonde girls'.

In a BBC documentary aired connected Thursday, respective women came guardant to impeach Al Fayed of sexually assaulting them portion they worked astatine luxury London section store Harrods.

And Haugenes says protocols were enactment successful spot to support his players from Al Fayed portion helium was astatine the club. "I work each the newspapers yesterday of people and to beryllium honorable it's not the biggest surprise," helium told the BBC.

"We were alert helium liked young, blonde girls. So we conscionable made definite that situations couldn't occur. We protected the players."

Al Fayed became Fulham proprietor successful 1997, paying a reported £30million for the club. During the people of his tenure, the Cottagers roseate from the 3rd tier of English shot to the Premier League.

Fulham became the archetypal afloat nonrecreational women's squad successful Europe successful 2000 but were downgraded to semi-pro by 2003, and backing was withdrawn successful 2006.

Haugenes besides revealed helium was paid by Harrods, alternatively than Fulham, during his clip astatine Craven Cottage. "When the payslip came from Harrods it was rather strange," helium added.

"Also, the declaration said that they could enactment maine successful the nutrient store successful Dublin if that was what I wanted. It would ne'er person happened today."

Lawyers representing Al Fayed's accusers said connected Friday it was improbable that determination are not much alleged victims. Barrister Maria Mulla said: "We don't astatine this signifier correspond immoderate women who, for instance, sustained immoderate attacks astatine Fulham Football Club but our investigations are evidently ongoing into each of these entities that helium had an engagement in.

"It's highly improbable that determination are not victims retired determination from these different places of work. Wherever helium went, determination volition beryllium victims."

Following the accusations against Al Fayed being made public, Fulham said they were 'deeply troubled and concerned' by the reports.

In a statement, the nine said: "We are profoundly troubled and acrophobic to larn of the disturbing reports pursuing yesterday's documentary. We person sincere empathy for the women who person shared their experiences.

"We are successful the process of establishing whether anyone astatine the nine is, oregon has been, affected.

"Should immoderate idiosyncratic privation to stock accusation oregon experiences relating to these allegations, we promote them to interaction the nine astatine [email protected] oregon the police."