Barnardo's, Britain's largest children's charity, was brought in by Chelsea to "oversee an independent investigation into the allegations of racism that have left the club facing the possibility of widespread legal action," according to Daniel Taylor of the London GUARDIAN. Chelsea commissioned the inquiry after receiving legal claims, initially from three former youth-team footballers from the '90s, alleging that Gwyn Williams and Graham Rix "subjected young black players to explicit racial abuse." A fourth player, who was in the club's youth setup from '79-85, made a separate claim about the alleged culture of "continued racist bullying and abuse," stating that it left him so traumatized he abandoned his football career, despite signing professional forms at Stamford Bridge, and "struggles even to watch the current team play" on TV because of the flashbacks. Three more players from the '80s have subsequently taken on solicitors to begin their own litigation and the complainants received "public backing" from two of the white players who were in the club's youth setup. The investigation is being led by Julie Dugdale, the head of business at Barnardo’s Training & Consultancy, and Rod Weston-Bartholomew, the charity’s assistant director of children’s services. Chelsea said, "We are absolutely determined to do the right thing, to assist the authorities and any investigations they may carry out, and to fully support those affected" (GUARDIAN, 5/9).
