Sophie Jones ‘lied to conceal wrongdoing’ according to FA commission

An FA regulatory commission has ruled that former Sheffield United forward Sophie Jones lied to “conceal wrongdoing” over allegations of racist abuse.

Jones received a five game ban after she was found guilty of racially abusing Tottenham defender Renee Hector during a Women’s Championship match in January.

United terminated Jones’ deal in March with the 27-year-old maintaining her innocence and saying the “hearing took place in a kangaroo court”.

However, the Football Association has now published the written reasons for the guilty finding.

Jones denied the allegations that she made monkey noises towards Hector, who is of mixed race, as the pair contested a corner.

Jones claimed to be unaware of allegations of racism until Hector tweeted after the game, but the commission did not believe her version of events.

The report read:

“The commission concluded that SJ’s [Jones’] denial that she had made that remark or indeed spoke to anyone at the time was supportive of the case against her because there was no reason to deny it other than to conceal wrongdoing.”

The commission also believed evidence from witnesses that Jones had claimed on the field to have a cough, despite Jones denying it.

The report continued:

“Since SJ’s evidence was that she did not recollect having a cough, and had indeed denied having a cough in her FA interview, it was clear that SJ was lying about having a cough when she said it on the pitch.

“The commission concluded that the only reason to lie at that point was to conceal the fact that she, SJ, was responsible for the noise.”