After serious allegations against Mohamed Al-Fayed, ex-soccer player Ronnie Gibbons also comes forward with allegations.
In a BBC documentary about Mohamed Al-Fayed (1929-2023) a few weeks ago, women made serious allegations against the late entrepreneur. Other alleged victims then reported to the police. Former soccer player Ronnie Gibbons (44) is now also talking about incidents with Al-Fayed, who once became known worldwide particularly through the relationship between his son Dodi (1955-1997) and Princess Diana (1961-1997). The entrepreneur was, among other things, the owner of the football club Fulham FC and the famous London department store Harrods. In that case, Al-Fayed allegedly attacked Gibbons, who was captain of the women’s team in Fulham at the time.
Ronnie Gibbons “was used”
Al-Fayed was aggressive twice in his office above the department store, Gibbons says. He forced himself on her and tried to kiss her on the mouth. The entrepreneur let her sit on his lap, stroked her and groped her. Gibbons was 20 years old at the time.
“I was used,” she explained through tears. As captain she felt a great responsibility: “Everything in me screamed ‘Ronnie, you have to go’, but I couldn’t because it would have been my fault that all these women lost their jobs and Fulham Ladies went down the drain.” She couldn’t allow anything to happen to her, but at the same time she couldn’t just run away – which is what she actually wanted to do.
“You are a very special girl”
During one of the incidents, Al-Fayed touched her on the breast. “This time he groped me. […] As he was saying goodbye, he grabbed me and tried to somehow hold me and kiss me. He said, ‘You’re not scared, are you? You don’t have to be afraid, I won’t do anything like that, you are very valuable, you are a very special girl.'”
Telling her story will hopefully help Gibbons heal and free myself from the shame, embarrassment and pain that I have carried with me for years. “If this can help just one person open up and realize it’s not their fault and they can be freed from the same burdens, then I’m happy.”
“We clearly condemn all forms of abuse,” . “We are continuing to determine whether anyone at Mohamed Al-Fayed’s club is or would have been affected in any way, as described in recent reports.”
The broadcaster published a documentary and a podcast in September in which former Harrods employees claim to have been sexually harassed or raped by the entrepreneur, who died in 2023. Since the documentary was first broadcast, 65 additional women have contacted the BBC and made allegations of abuse. London police announced last week that 40 new allegations from 1979 to 2013 were received after the broadcast.
Source: Stern
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