Late former Fulham owner Mohamed Al Fayed has been accused of rape by several women who worked at luxury London department store Harrods

Fulham women's manager has claimed female players were 'protected' from then-owner Mohamed Al Fayed amid allegations of rape against him.

Haugenes, who managed the team from 2001 to 2003, told the BBC that members of staff were aware Mr Al Fayed ‘liked young, blonde girls’ and steps were taken to protect the players from the late billionaire. He said: ‘I read all the newspapers yesterday of course and to be honest it’s not the biggest surprise.

Precautions were put in place to protect Fulham’s women’s team from the club’s late owner Mohamed Fayed, a former manager has said. Five women have alleged that they were raped by Fayed, who died last year at the age of 94,

Players at Fulham Football Club were protected from the club's late owner, says a former manager. Gaute Haugenes, who managed the women's team from 2001 to 2003, told the BBC that staff were aware that Mohamed Al Fayed "liked young, blonde girls".

Fulham has initiated an investigation to determine if anyone associated with the club was impacted by allegations made against its former owner, Mohamed Al-Fayed. The allegations, which were detailed in the BBC documentary on Thursday night Al-Fayed: Predator at Harrods,

Fulham are investigating whether anyone associated with the club has been a victim of its former owner Mohamed Al Fayed, who has been accused of raping and sexually abusing young women.

Al-Fayed purchased Fulham in 1997, after their promotion to the old Division Two (now League One). He immediately announced his ambition to take the club to the Premier League within five years. Fulham were promoted to the lucrative top flight in 2001 and remained there until 2014.

Fulham FC has said it is "deeply troubled" by the dozens of "disturbing" sexual abuse allegations against its former owner Mohamed al Fayed.