The review into English football's child sexual abuse scandal is "investigating whether a paedophile ring operated in the game," according to Ben Rumsby of the London TELEGRAPH. The inquiry into how the FA and the country's clubs "dealt with the alleged abuse of schoolboy players" between '70 and '05 is also "examining girls’ football during that period." Details have been revealed about the "scope and status of the review." As well as looking at whether there was a "network" of pedophiles abusing young players and investigating boys' and girls' football, the review will:
- Examine up to 5 million documents "held in an FA archive."
- Investigate the "use of gag clauses by clubs paying off alleged victims."
- Scrutinize the "role of officials from affected teams who also held positions at the FA" (TELEGRAPH, 5/15).
MISSING DEADLINES: In London, Daniel Taylor reported eight of the professional football clubs contacted by the independent inquiry into the game's sexual abuse scandal "failed to respond and now risk disciplinary action unless they tell the investigators what they know." The FA is "ready to step in and has the power to impose sanctions" if it deems the clubs that failed to comply are "threatening to undermine the investigation." The inquiry team, led by Clive Sheldon QC, wrote to every amateur and professional club in England and Wales on Jan. 11 asking them to "supply any information that could help relating to the period covered by the review," and requesting this was done by March 15. Sheldon and his colleagues "consider that part of the process to be vital." The clubs that did not respond within the initial period were contacted and informed that a "new deadline had been put in place of the end of April." The fact that eight clubs "still failed to meet that six-week extension" has led to the FA being notified and leaves questions about whether there are "still people within the sport who are unwilling to cooperate." The last available figures, released by the National Police Chiefs' Council on April 18, showed 560 people had come forward citing abuse and 252 suspects had been named since the investigation began in November (GUARDIAN, 5/15).
