The FA "has launched an internal review to examine allegations of children being sexually abused at professional football clubs," according to Steve Tongue of REUTERS. English football's governing body said on Sunday that it had appointed Kate Gallafent QC as leading independent counsel to oversee its investigation. After accusations this month from former Crewe Alexandra player Andy Woodward, who said he was "molested as a boy by talent spotter and convicted paedophile Barry Bennell," other former youth players "have gone public with allegations." Bennell has "made no public comment on the allegations." The FA's internal review "will look into what information the association and clubs were aware of" at the time of the alleged offenses and what action was or should have been taken (REUTERS, 11/27). In London, Mendick & Harley reported a Premier League club reportedly "made secret payments to a former footballer, preventing him from going public with allegations of rape at the hands of a youth team coach." The FA "set up an independent internal inquiry into allegations of child sex abuse." The compensation "was signed off in the last two years after the player made a complaint to the club and to the Metropolitan Police." Separate sources have said that the victim "was convinced that other young footballers at the time were also abused by the coach." The former player "was on the verge of speaking openly about his claims," which could have "prompted other victims to come forward," when the football club "made an offer of compensation that was bound up in strict confidentiality clauses." The deal prevents the victim, his family or his legal team "from even acknowledging the existence of the case." The sexual abuse is understood to have taken place in the '70s but Scotland Yard was informed of the abuse "only recently," after revelations about BBC presenter Jimmy Savile. Professional Footballers' Association CEO Gordon Taylor revealed that 20 players "have so far come forward with allegations of abuse." Taylor said that "up to seven clubs were connected to the allegations but expected that figure to rise." Asked to name the clubs that had been "connected to allegations thus far," Taylor said, "We'd start at Crewe, go to Man City, Stoke, Blackpool, Newcastle, Leeds. ... I’m expecting there will be more. I think we have six or seven clubs" (TELEGRAPH, 11/27). The BBC reported four police forces "are investigating the allegations" and a National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children hotline "has had more than 100 calls." The FA said that it was working closely with police, adding it "must ensure we do not do anything to interfere with or jeopardise the criminal process." The Child Protection in Sport Unit, which has assisted the FA in relation to its safeguarding procedures since '00, "will also carry out an independent audit into the FA's practices." Taylor, 71, said that "none of those who had come forward were currently playing in the top four leagues in England." He said that the alleged abuse "occurred to footballers aged six to 16," when players were "vulnerable young people." Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport Karen Bradley said that victims of sexual abuse in football "must come forward." She said, "Come and give your story, you will be listened to, you will be believed" (BBC, 11/27).
INDEPENDENT REVIEW: The BBC reported in a separate piece Crewe Alexandra announced it "will hold an independent review" into the way it dealt with historical child sex abuse allegations. It comes as a fifth former player "made claims of of sexual abuse." Bennell, now 62, "has served three jail sentences" for child sex offenses, including one last year. Crewe Alexandra said in a statement that it "believes an independent review, to be conducted via the appointment of external legal counsel, is the correct way forward in the circumstances." Police and FA sources said that they "expect more allegations to surface." National Police Chiefs' Council Chief Constable Simon Bailey said, "We are receiving reports of abuse in all sorts of different institutions. I am not in the least bit surprised that we are now seeing the lid lifted on exploitation within the world of football and I suspect there will be other sporting governing bodies who will come forward and who will identify the fact that they have similar problems." Across the sporting industry, Operation Hydrant, "the national police hub coordinating historical sex abuse claims," said that it is investigating 17 sports people and allegations of abuse at 24 sporting venues (BBC, 11/27).
