New Delhi: Ronnie Gibbons, the former captain of Fulham Ladies, has come forward with serious allegations against the club’s late owner, Mohamed Al Fayed. Gibbons claims she was sexually assaulted by Al Fayed on two occasions in 2000, when she was just 20 years old. At the time, Fulham Ladies had recently turned professional, becoming the first female football team in Europe to do so.
In an interview with The Athletic, Gibbons said the first incident occurred at Harrods, the luxury department store owned by Al Fayed. She was driven to the store by club staff, left alone with Al Fayed, and recalled that he forcefully tried to kiss her. “He pulled me in close and tried to kiss me on the mouth,” she shared, explaining how Al Fayed had her arms restrained, leaving her unable to resist.
Later that summer, Gibbons was summoned again to Harrods, where she said Al Fayed groped her. Despite feeling vulnerable and scared, she said the billionaire tried to reassure her by saying, “You don’t need to be scared, I’m not going to do anything like that.” She later explained that these incidents left her feeling “physically sick and deeply uncomfortable” after each encounter, she told The Athletic.
From @TheAthleticFC: Ronnie Gibbons was captain of England’s first professional women’s football team. She said she was twice trapped in a room as Mohamed Al Fayed, the former billionaire owner of Fulham, tried to forcefully kiss her and groped her. https://t.co/ae9ooSR9Ux pic.twitter.com/eWjaqv447G
— The New York Times (@nytimes) October 18, 2024
Gibbons’ decision to share her story has been both difficult and empowering. She expressed her hope that by speaking out, she can help others who might be going through similar experiences. “Speaking my truth and finally telling my story will hopefully help me heal,” she added.
Fulham FC has responded to these allegations with shock, stating: “The club is profoundly troubled to learn of the experiences told today by former Women’s Team captain, Ronnie Gibbons. She has our deepest empathy and support.” They are working to determine if anyone at the club may have been affected by Al Fayed’s behaviour.
Al Fayed, who owned Fulham from 1997 to 2013, has faced numerous allegations over the years. In addition to Gibbons’ claims, the Metropolitan Police have recently received 40 new allegations of sexual assault and rape against him. These are in addition to 21 other complaints made between 2005 and 2023. Al Fayed passed away last year at the age of 94.
