Mohamed Al Fayed Accused of Sexual Assaulting Former Fulham Captain Ronnie Gibbons
A former captain of Fulham Women, Ronnie Gibbons, has accused the late Mohamed Al Fayed of sexually assaulting her at Harrods. The incident allegedly took place during the 2000-01 season when Gibbons was just 20 years old. Gibbons, who was the captain of Fulham Ladies at the time, claimed that Al Fayed, the billionaire owner of the club who passed away last year at the age of 94, attempted to forcefully kiss her and groped her in a room above the Knightsbridge department store.
In an interview with The Athletic, Gibbons shared her feelings of responsibility as a professional athlete, stating, “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.” She expressed how torn she felt between protecting herself and the team.
This accusation is the latest in a series of historical allegations that have surfaced against Mohamed Al Fayed. The Metropolitan Police has revealed that they are investigating 40 new allegations, including rape and sexual assault, against Al Fayed and others spanning from 1979 to 2013. While criminal proceedings cannot be brought against the deceased Al Fayed, the police are looking into the possibility of pursuing other individuals for criminal offences.
These fresh claims of sexual harassment, assault, and rape have emerged following the broadcast of the documentary “Al Fayed: Predator At Harrods.” Justice for Harrods Survivors, represented by a group of barristers, has stated that they have 71 clients and are processing 220 more inquiries relating to these allegations.
Fulham Football Club has stated that they condemn all forms of abuse and are investigating whether anyone at the club may have been affected by Al Fayed. They encourage anyone with information to come forward to the police or contact the club directly. Harrods, in a separate statement, expressed deep regret for the alleged actions of Mohamed Al Fayed and apologized for any failures in protecting his victims during that time.
The ongoing investigation into these serious allegations has raised concerns and shed light on issues of abuse and power dynamics within the sports industry. Further developments are expected as authorities delve deeper into the matter to ensure accountability and justice.