Ronnie Gibbons Speaks Out Against Al Fayed's Misconduct

Ronnie Gibbons the former captain of Fulham Ladies accuses the late club owner Mohamed Al Fayed of groping her on two separate occasions. In an interview with *The Athletic*, Gibbons described an incident in 2000 when Al Fayed attempted to kiss her at Harrods, where club staff had driven her. She recounted feeling “sick” during the encounter and detailed how Al Fayed exerted physical control over her, stating, “He was dominating you.”

Gibbons further alleged that he groped her during a second meeting where he made unsettling comments including, “You’re not scared, are you?” Fulham FC responded to the allegations and expressed deep concern for Gibbons’ experiences while emphasizing their condemnation of all forms of abuse. The club currently investigates whether Al Fayed’s actions impacted anyone at the club.

Gibbons’ claims align with a growing number of allegations against Al Fayed; the Metropolitan Police reported that 40 people had come forward with new allegations, including sexual assault and rape after a BBC documentary featured testimonies from former Harrods employees. Gaute Haugenes, who managed Fulham’s women’s team from 2001 to 2003, acknowledged that the club took extra precautions regarding Al Fayed.

However, he admitted that he did not know about Gibbons’ summons to Harrods. He expressed regret for any comments that might have trivialized Gibbons’ experiences and recognized a failure in the system to protect players. Yvonne Harrison, CEO of Women in Football highlighted the challenges women face in the sport and emphasized the importance of safeguarding players.

The Justice for Harrods Survivors group praised Ronnie Gibbons for her bravery and vowed to advocate for justice for all victims of Al Fayed’s alleged abuse. Harrods condemned Al Fayed’s actions, stating that his behavior reflected an abuse of power.