The Football Association has been widely condemned for failing to take disciplinary action against former Cardiff manager Malky Mackay over discriminatory text messages -- with one of its own England players joining the chorus of disapproval.
Mackay and former Cardiff head of recruitment Iain Moody were cleared following an 11-month investigation into the content of racist, sexist and homophobic messages reportedly sent to each other with the FA saying its policy in such cases was "not to bring charges in respect of private communications sent with a legitimate expectation of privacy".
But the judgement drew a fierce backlash from those in and out of the game with England striker Eniola Aluko -- a member of the squad which recently finished third at the 2015 Women's World Cup -- joining in the criticism.
@WarrenHaughton Basically if you're a football coach/manager/leader and racist in private it's ok... Dreadful precedent.
- Eniola Aluko (@EniAlu) July 16, 2015
The FA also came under attack from the anti-discriminatory group Kick it Out, the Jewish Leadership Council and Women in Football following a lengthy investigation the governing body said was necessary due to "serious concerns" over the way evidence had been given as well the reliability and completeness of that information.
"We could have been responding to this nearly a year ago because it's what we expected from the FA," Kick it Out chairman Lord Ouseley told Sky Sports.
"We hoped they would have considered information that comes out of private communications regarding individuals involved in football that once it's in the public arena it must be taken into account whether that person is fit and proper to be doing the job they do.
"The FA has clearly not done so. It has taken a decision which is undermining its own credibility, commitments and zero tolerance to discriminatory and abusive conduct.
"It really damages the campaign to tackle unacceptable behaviour in football... as they are saying that people who have these views are fit and proper persons to be doing a job when they come into contact with people from different backgrounds.
"Some of the emails and texts revealed horrendous statements about people's personality and anyone who cares about equality and fairness will be disappointed to what the FA have done."
Simon Johnson, chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council, also insisted there should be no distinction between private messages and public comments in such communications.
"We are disappointed that the FA has decided not to charge Malky Mackay with any offence," Johnson said in a JLC statement.
"This decision seems at odds with the positive interventions that the FA made in the cases of Dave Whelan and Mario Balotelli last season.
"If the FA is determined to have a zero tolerance attitude to racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia and discrimination of any kind, then it is not sustainable to create a distinction between private messages and public comments.
"I call upon the FA to review its disciplinary procedures and to rethink this inconsistent approach."
A Women in Football statement said: "WiF are concerned that the governing body's stance effectively provides a carte blanche for individuals and organisations to discriminate against women, ethnic minorities, LGBT and other minority groups, using the caveat of a "legitimate expectation of privacy" to do so.
"WiF believe that privately discriminating against those with protected characteristics is no less dangerous than publicly doing so, and urge the FA to bring its policies in line with other sectors who do not tolerate such abuse."