'Shocked' England women's football star accuses head coach of racist jibe about ebola and her family in Nigeria

England women’s football star Eniola Aluko yesterday claimed she was subjected to a ‘racist’ jibe about the ebola virus from the head coach.

The 30-year-old striker alleged she was ‘intimidated and shocked’ by the comments from Mark Sampson about her family in Nigeria contracting the killer disease.

The shocking claim follows her allegations that she was bullied by Sampson and that he made a remark with ‘racial connotations’ to another mixed-race player. Mr Sampson and the Football Association have always vehemently denied Miss Aluko’s accusations.

But questions arose last week about why she received an £80,000 settlement by the FA after making the claims.

Yesterday, Miss Aluko further alleged she had been subjected to a ‘racist comment’ by the England coach before a match against Germany in 2014.

‘I found myself next to Mark Sampson and he asked me which family members were coming,’ she told the BBC. ‘I said, “I’ve got family coming in from Nigeria.” And he said, “Make sure they don’t come over with ebola.” I laughed because I was in shock. I didn’t know what to say.

‘I’m used to industrial language, used to a bit of banter, a bit of a joke – but that was about my family. I believe it was said to me because I am of African descent and my family is coming over from Nigeria at the time.