Former Fulham Ladies captain Ronnie Gibbons has made serious allegations against the late Mohamed Al Fayed, claiming she was sexually assaulted by him on two occasions. The 44-year-old, who led the team during the 2000/01 season, stated these incidents occurred when Al Fayed was both the owner of Fulham Football Club and the chairman of Harrods, the luxury department store.
According to Gibbons, the first incident involved Al Fayed attempting to "forcefully" kiss her when she was just 20 years old. During her second visit to the upscale Harrods department store, she alleges he groped her. These events unfolded under the guise of business discussions concerning the club, with Gibbons expressing, "Everything internally was screaming at me, 'Ronnie, you need to leave', but I couldn't because I would be to blame for all these women losing their jobs and Fulham Ladies going down the pan."
Gibbons's lawyers have confirmed she has waived her anonymity, wanting to speak out about her experience. She utilized her platform to highlight the fear she felt at the time, fearing the repercussions for herself and the women's football team should she voice her concerns. Al Fayed, who passed away at the age of 94 last year, was previously known as one of Britain's most influential businessmen.
The allegations emerged shortly after the BBC aired a documentary featuring testimonies from multiple former employees of Harrods who claim to have faced similar experiences of sexual assault or harassment at the hands of Al Fayed.
She characterized the scenario as difficult, adding, "I was used. I just felt a huge responsibility on my shoulders because we'd just turned professional." Gibbons reported feeling trapped by her circumstances, outlining her anguish and responsibility as captain of the team.
On both occasions when Gibbons went to meet Al Fayed, she claimed the invitation was presented under the pretext of needing to speak with his children. She recounted being driven from the club's training ground to Harrods by club staff, only to discover there were no children present.
Moving forward, lawyers representing Gibbons declared: "What former Fulham captain Ronnie Gibbons was forced to endure at the hands of Mohamed Al Fayed is yet another horrible example of the monstrous abuse aided and abetted by the businesses he owned. We salute our client's bravery." Meanwhile, the Justice For Harrods Survivors group also issued remarks of solidarity with Gibbons, emphasizing the importance of her revelations.
Fulham Football Club, responding to these allegations and the BBC’s continued investigations, released a statement condemning all forms of abuse. They are actively working to determine if any staff or club members had been affected by Al Fayed during his time as chairman.
Notably, British police reported last week the recording of 40 new allegations against Al Fayed following the documentary's release. This adds to prior accounts they were already aware of, signifying growing attention to the serious claims against him.
With more than 200 women reportedly entering settlement discussions with Harrods about various claims of harassment or abuse, Gibbons's claims represent just one facet of the larger narrative being explored.
Reiterated sentiments from Fulham underline their commitment to integrity and respect for all individuals involved with the club, as they navigate the impact of these allegations on their community.
Gibbons's testimony sheds light on the broader issues of abuse and harassment within the sports world, particularly women’s sports which have sometimes been overlooked. The call to action for transparency and accountability has never been louder.