Post by Macmoish on Jan 30, 2011 22:20:48 GMT
Guardian/Daniel Taylor
Manchester City allege employee was victim of Notts County 'sexism'
• Director of communications thrown out of players' tunnel
• County deny sexism and say she had wrong accreditation
Manchester City are to make a formal complaint to Notts County after a female member of staff was thrown out of the players' tunnel and allegedly informed women were barred from the area.
Vicky Kloss, City's director of communications, was blocked from speaking to the club's players and management before and after the 1-1 draw at Meadow Lane, despite having access-all-areas accreditation. On both occasions she was allegedly manhandled and told no women were allowed.
The incident threatens to be a serious embarrassment for the League One club at a delicate time for the sport in the wake of the sexism row that has led to Andy Gray's sacking and Richards Keys's resignation from Sky Sports last week.
Simon Heggie, another member of City's media department, was not challenged despite holding the same pass as Kloss. The club's complaint will allege she was treated with gross discourtesy by the stewards and barred on the grounds of her sex.
A Notts spokesman said: "It's nothing to do with the fact she's a woman. It's because she didn't have accreditation for this part of the ground. It's our ground and those are our rules.
"We won't stand for any kind of sexism at this club. This is about club policy. If she has a complaint we will encourage her to make it known to us and we will investigate fully. If anyone has done anything wrong, they will be dealt with severely."
Notts have faced allegations of sexism before when, under the chairmanship of Derek Pavis, the club would not allow Karren Brady into the boardroom during her time as managing director of Birmingham City. The tunnel where the row occurred is sponsored by Hooters, a chain of bars known for its scantily clad barmaids.
www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jan/30/manchester-city-sexism-notts-county?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Ffootball%2Frss+%28Football%29
