England winger Nikita Parris apologised to former teammate Eniola Aluko on Wednesday for her public display of support to former England coach Mark Sampson.

The moment occurred when Parris scored for England against Russia during a match in 2017. Sampson had been accused of racially abusing Aluko and another player, Drew Spence, but Parris ran to Sampson and celebrated the goal with her boss.

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An inquiry into Sampson’s comments at the time ruled that he was guilty and was sacked from his position a day after Parris’ celebration.

Parris, who plays for Lyon in France, wrote an open letter to Aluko and posted it on her twitter page. It read: “Eni, I am sorry that my thoughtless actions caused you hurt.

“At the time I focused more on what I believed was showing unity when really it did nothing of the sort, it showed a lack of empathy, understanding and ignorance by singling out a voice who needed an ear to listen and a support system to help.

“I am now able to understand how I have been part of the problem which I aim to fight and eradicate.

“I am a proud black woman, I understand I have a social responsibility to help create change through my platform.”

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Immediately after the incident, Aluko called the celebration “naive”. She also said: “Some of them may have a special relationship with Mark Sampson and they have every right [to celebrate with him], but I think about the sensitivity at that time, and it wasn’t respectful.”

The FA sacked Sampson for what they described as “clear evidence of inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour by a coach”.

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They also apologised to Aluko and Spence, ruling that Sampson “made comments that were “discriminatory on the grounds of race”.

After England, Sampson went on to coach at League Two club Stevenage in July 2019. In September he was accused of using racist language in a coaches’ meeting. He was charged by the FA in November of that year, but in January 2020 that charge was dismissed out of court with an FA independent commission dismissing the claim.

Angers attacking midfielder Farid El Melali has apologised after he was arrested earlier this week and charged with public masturbation.

Sources told ESPN on Wednesday that the Algeria international was spotted masturbating in the courtyard at his residence while looking at a woman living in a flat on the ground floor.

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Local police and Ligue 1 club Angers confirmed El Melali’s arrest without comment and the player has now issued a public apology for his actions.

“These last few days have been very hard — mentally and physically,” he said on Instagram. “Coping with criticism and judgement is tough. I understand that those who received the information cannot tolerate such behaviour.

“I want to apologise to my family, my friends and the fans of my dear club Angers, as well as my fellow Algerians.

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“Everything that happened has affected me, but it has also made me stronger and more aware of the values and principles that I must uphold. Thank you to everybody who has stuck with me during this rough time.”

El Melali’s offence took place late on Monday and was seen by neighbours, who identified him as the man outside the woman’s flat looking through her window and called the police.

ESPN sources said it is the second time the midfielder has been arrested for similar offences and his lawyer Sandra Chirac Kollarik defended her client in Le Courrier de l’Ouest by saying that he was “not targeting anyone, nor was he aggressive.”

El Melali, who joined Angers in the summer of 2018 and recently signed a contract extension until 2023, is due to appear in court this summer and risks one year in prison and a €15,000 fine.