Football Club Owner Accused of Taking £28,000

The owner of the girls' football club Red Star Lionesses, James Austin, faces allegations of taking more than £28,000 from parents for tournaments, kits, and sessions that did not happen. Austin denies the claims, stating they are a civil matter between the club and the parents.

Allegations and Investigation

More than 70 parents have come forward with allegations against Austin, who has two fraud convictions. The claims are being reviewed by Greater Manchester police and are part of an investigation by the Football Association. Austin has been issued an interim suspension while the investigation continues. He has also been charged by the FA with breaching Rule E3.1 by bringing the game into disrepute.

Accusations of False Promises

Parents accuse Austin of charging them for entry, travel, and accommodation to the Paris International Cup, a tournament being hosted at Paris Saint-Germain's training ground in July. However, emails from the tournament organisers state that Austin had made a reservation for two teams on an entry-only package and did not book the accommodation and travel packages for which he charged parents. Austin is also accused of advertising and charging for meet-and-greet sessions with WSL players without the players' knowledge or permission.

Parent Reactions and Consequences

Parents have launched a GoFundMe to help cover the cost of sending a team to the tournament. One parent said their daughter is 'deeply upset and heartbroken' that the trip to the Paris International Cup may never happen. Another parent said they felt 'betrayed' and that the impact on their daughter has been 'devastating'. Austin has said that as a 'gesture of goodwill', over £6,000 has been refunded in the past five days, but none of the parents have received a direct refund from him.

Key points

• James Austin, owner of Red Star Lionesses, accused of taking over £28,000 from parents
• Allegations include charging for tournaments, kits, and sessions that did not happen
• Austin has two fraud convictions, including a two-year jail term
• Greater Manchester police and the Football Association are investigating the allegations
• Austin has been issued an interim suspension and charged by the FA with breaching Rule E3.1
• Parents have launched a GoFundMe to help cover the cost of sending a team to the Paris International Cup