The Football Association has initiated an internal inquiry into allegations of sexual abuse in the sport.

Independent leading counsel Kate Gallafent QC will oversee the review, which follow several former footballers saying they were abused as youth players.

A NSPCC helpline was launched earlier this week in light of the allegations; it has since been reported that over 100 calls have been made to the number.

The FA said: “We are working closely with the police to support their lead investigations and must ensure we do not do anything to interfere with or jeopardise the criminal process.

“The internal review will look into what information The FA was aware of at the relevant times around the issues that have been raised in the press, what clubs were aware of, and what action was or should have been taken.”

English football’s governing body also confirmed that “a wide-ranging inquiry may be required in time”.

Gallafent will provide recommendations “to ensure these situations can never be repeated”.

The Child Protection in Sport Unit, which has helped form the FA’s safeguarding policy since 2000, will carry out its own independent audit into the governing body’s current practices in early 2017. This will not consider the historic allegations. </s> The scandal surrounding allegations of historical child sex abuse in football could spread to other sports, a senior police officer has warned.



A significant number of other alleged victims of abuse are likely to come forward and further sporting governing bodies may report similar problems, Chief Constable Simon Bailey, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) lead for child protection, said.

Four police forces are now investigating allegations of historical child sex abuse in football.

The national inquiry into child sexual abuse said it was “watching events closely” and opened the door to examining allegations in the growing scandal as the England captain, Wayne Rooney, urged anyone who may have been assaulted to seek help.

A string of former footballers have come forward since Andy Woodward became the first to speak out last week about abuse he suffered at the hands of convicted child abuser Barry Bennell, a former Crewe Alexandra coach.

Bailey told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think it’s probably a little bit too early to speculate but I suspect that in the next few days and weeks that we will see a significant increase in the numbers that are currently reporting allegations of abuse to us.”

The Norfolk chief constable added: “We, as a country, are now having to deal with the legacy of non-recent sexual abuse and the thousands of allegations that we are now seeing across the country.

“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 – again in the next few days and weeks – who will come forward and who will identify the fact that they have similar problems.

“I just think that we have more and more victims, thankfully, who are having the confidence to come forward knowing the police service’s response and society’s response to their abuse is now very different.”

The Metropolitan police, Hampshire police and Cheshire police have all said they are investigating allegations of abuse in the football community.

Northumbria police said it was investigating an allegation by an unnamed former Newcastle United player that he was abused in the club’s youth system.

The Guardian revealed earlier that an unnamed former Newcastle United player had contacted police to make allegations against George Ormond, a coach in the north-east who was jailed for six years in 2002 for carrying out numerous assaults across a 24-year period.

Newcastle United said it would co-operate with authorities “if or when the club receives further information”.

Some of the claims have come from the NSPCC, which this week set up a dedicated hotline – on 0800 023 2642 – for football-related cases.

The Premier League said it was “very concerned” by the allegations.

A former Crewe board member also told the Guardian that the club had been told Bennell had sexually abused one of its junior footballers. Hamilton Smith, who was on the board between 1986 and 1990, said he called for a meeting after being told a boy had been abused.

Bennell was allowed to stay on but orders were issued that he should not be left alone with boys, Smith said.

He added: “This was discussed at the club’s top level and, as much as I tried to resolve this, regrettably I couldn’t. I dread to think how many victims there are, and my heart goes out to them.”

Former Manchester City youth team player Jason Dunford claimed on Friday the scandal was bigger than the Jimmy Savile revelations.

Chris Unsworth, 44, a former Crewe youngster who has also made allegations against Bennell, claimed it was “swept under the carpet”.

Ex-England and Manchester City players David White and Paul Stewart and former Crewe player Steve Walters have also spoken out about being sexually abused by football coaches as children.

Bennell, who worked for Crewe, Manchester City, Stoke and junior teams in north-west England and the Midlands, abused young boys from the 1970s onwards.

He was jailed for four years for raping a British boy on a 1994 football tour of Florida, and given a nine-year sentence for 23 offences against six boys in England in 1998.

He was jailed for a third time in 2015 after admitting abusing a boy at a 1980 football camp in Macclesfield.

Crewe said it would conduct an internal investigation and Manchester City is also reviewing Bennell’s links with the club.

Operation Hydrant, which oversees the investigation of allegations of historical child sex abuse within institutions or by people of public prominence, is trying to pinpoint the scale of the alleged abuse.

It has been in touch with all forces in England and Wales asking them to forward details of the allegations they have received following the recent publicity. </s> England's Football Association (FA) launched an internal investigation into the allegations Sunday after more than 20 players came forward alleging abuse in their youth, according to England's Professional Footballers Association (PFA).

The PFA's chief executive Gordon Taylor adding that "six or seven clubs" were potentially implicated.

"We are aware of the allegations," said a FIFA statement. "FIFA considers the protection of children and young people as fundamental in football and we will monitor the situation closely."

At least four UK police departments are investigating separate allegations and the FA said it will work closely with police to "ensure we do not do anything to interfere with or jeopardize the criminal process," according to a statement from the English governing body.

A hotline set up for victims who suffered abuse while playing soccer as children received over 50 phone calls shortly after being set up on Thursday Visit cnn.com/football for more news and videos Journalist Deborah Davies, who worked on a 1997 TV documentary about abuse in football, said the FA ignored "so many warnings." "Let's find out exactly what you knew, when you knew it and what you didn't do about it," Davies told ITV's Good Morning Britain. The internal investigation -- led by lawyer Kate Gallafent -- will focus on what the FA and individual clubs knew at the time of the alleged abuses and "what action was or should have been taken," the English governing body statement said. One club, Crewe Alexandra Football, said Sunday it has launched a "review of the way the club dealt with historical child abuse allegations," after former Sheffield United player Andy Woodward publicly told his story explaining how he was abused by coach Barry Bennell while playing for the club in the 1980s and 1990s. Cheshire Police, in northern England, said Friday they had received a "growing number of disclosures" relating to "non-recent child sexual abuse linked to football." "These have included allegations made against more than one individual," police said in a statement. The allegations have rocked England's soccer world. On Friday, the captain of England's national team Wayne Rooney urged victims to use the hotline. "It's awful that some of my colleagues have suffered this way whilst playing the sport that I and they love," Rooney said. </s> Growing reports of child sex abuse in football stretching back decades could spread to other sports, police have warned.

Chief Constable Simon Bailey, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) lead for child protection, said a “significant” number of victims are likely to come forward following claims of assaults by coaches.

"I suspect that in the next few days and weeks that we will see a significant increase in the numbers that are currently reporting allegations of abuse to us,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

"We, as a country, are now having to deal with the legacy of non-recent sexual abuse and the thousands of allegations that we are now seeing across the country.

"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 - again in the next few days and weeks - who will come forward and who will identify the fact that they have similar problems.”

Former Manchester City youth player Jason Dunford claimed the scandal was bigger than the Jimmy Savile revelations as reports continued to grow on Friday.

Four police forces are now investigating allegations of historical child sex abuse in football, with a national inquiry “watching events closely” as England captain Wayne Rooney urged anyone who may have been assaulted to seek help.

A string of former footballers have come forward since Andy Woodward became the first to speak out last week about abuse he suffered at the hands of convicted child abuser Barry Bennell, a former Crewe Alexandra coach.

Ex-England and Manchester City players David White and Paul Stewart and former Crewe player Steve Walters have also spoken out about being sexually abused by football coaches as children.

Mr Bailey said he hoped people would have the confidence to come forward in the knowledge that the response by police officers and society could be “very different” than in previous decades.

The Metropolitan Police, Hampshire Police and Cheshire police are investigating allegations of abuse in the football community, while Northumbria Police is handling an allegation by an unnamed former Newcastle United player that he was abused in the club's youth system.

Operation Hydrant, which oversees the investigation of allegations of historical child sex abuse within institutions or by prominent figures, is trying to pinpoint the scale of the alleged abuse.

It has been in touch with all forces in England and Wales asking them to forward details of the allegations they have received following the recent publicity.

The NSPCC has set up a dedicated helpline - on 0800 023 2642 - for football-related cases. </s> The country's third largest police force has launched a probe into allegations of historical child sex abuse in youth football after recent media reports prompted people to come forward.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) joined the Metropolitan Police and the Football Association in investigating the growing scandal, which was sparked when ex-player Andy Woodward spoke out about the abuse he suffered at the hands of convicted paedophile Barry Bennell.

It comes after it emerged that Bennell, a former Crewe Alexandra coach, was treated by paramedics and taken to hospital on Friday night after being found unconscious, in what police called a "fear for welfare" incident.

GMP urged more victims to come forward and said complaints would be treated seriously.

Assistant Chief Constable Debbie Ford said: "Following recent media coverage, Greater Manchester Police has received a number of calls from people reporting historic sexual abuse whilst they were in the youth football system.

"We have now launched an investigation and our specially trained officers are supporting those who have come forward so far.

"We are co-ordinating our investigation with forces nationally and with Operation Hydrant, the national co-ordination hub for historic child abuse investigations concerning persons of public prominence.

"I would encourage anyone who was a victim of sexual or physical abuse to come forward and speak to us as soon as possible.

"I completely understand that for many people, making disclosures about such traumatic events can be difficult, but we will offer advice and support throughout."

On Sunday the FA instructed independent leading counsel Kate Gallafent QC to oversee its internal review, assessing "what information the FA was aware of at the relevant times, what clubs were aware of, and what action was or should have been taken".

Her recommendations will be considered but the FA accepts a full, wide-ranging inquiry may yet be necessary.

Damian Collins, chairman of the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee, accused the FA of being slow in responding to the growing scandal.

The MP for Folkestone & Hythe told the BBC: "This internal review needs to go much wider. They need to make it clear that this is a full investigation. The person leading it can take it in whatever direction they want, that anyone in football who is called as a witness is compelled to give evidence.

"We have seen allegations that clubs paid off players to keep quiet. People have come forward saying that people within their club knew, that they made complaints that weren't acted on, the people at the FA knew, and, therefore, what did the FA do with the evidence they were given?

"I think too often, particularly in football, where independent investigations are launched, they often have very narrow terms of reference and their findings are kept private."

The Metropolitan Police, Hampshire Police and Cheshire Police have already said they are investigating allegations of abuse in the football community.

Northumbria Police said it was investigating an allegation by an unnamed former Newcastle player that he was abused in the club's youth system. Newcastle said they would co-operate with authorities "if or when the club receives further information".

UEFA has given its support to the FA as it conducts a review into the allegations.

"UEFA is aware of the allegations of sexual abuse made by several footballers in the English media," UEFA chief of communications Pedro Pinto said.

"We are very concerned by these disturbing revelations and would like to state categorically that any kind of abusive behaviour in the game is completely unacceptable. We send our support to the Football Association, who we trust is doing all it can to investigate the matter." </s> The Football Association has confirmed it is investigating allegations of sexual abuse in football.

Former footballers have come forward to say they were sexually abused as youth players.

Four police forces are investigating the allegations and an NSPCC hotline has had more than 100 calls.

The FA said it was working closely with police, adding it “must ensure we do not do anything to interfere with or jeopardise the criminal process”.

The FA has instructed independent leading counsel Kate Gallafent QC, who is an expert in child protection, to assist it with its review.

The FA added that the internal review will look at what information the FA was aware of at relevant times around the issues, which clubs were aware and what action was, or should have been taken.

The Child Protection in Sport Unit, which has assisted the FA in relation to its safeguarding procedures since 2000, will also carry out an independent audit into the FA’s practices.

The NSPCC hotline was set up after David White, Andy Woodward, Steve Walters and Paul Stewart all spoke out about abuse.

Ex-Crewe player Woodward, 43, initially went public on the 16 November about his abuse by former Crewe coach and youth football scout Barry Bennell, who was later convicted for sex offences against children. Crewe have launched their own independent review into the allegations.

Former youth team players Chris Unsworth and Jason Dunford also told BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme they had been abused by Bennell.

The players all waived their right to anonymity to speak publicly about abuse they suffered. </s> The Football Association was today urged to begin a wide-ranging inquiry into the full scale of the child sex abuse scandal, as more players revealed they were victims.

Damian Collins, chairman of the Commons culture, media and sport committee, called on the FA to order an investigation similar to the one carried out by Dame Janet Smith into the BBC’s culture and practices during the Jimmy Savile and Stuart Hall years.

The Conservative MP told BBC radio: “They need to make it clear that this is a full investigation, the person leading it can take it in whatever direction they want, that anyone in football who is called as a witness is compelled to give evidence.

"It should not just investigate individual allegations made in the past but ask the question, ‘Should people in football have known more, was it reasonable that they could have known more, should they have done more at the time, and are there problems with the whole culture within football that meant this problem went undetected and unresolved for so long?’”

He said the inquiry’s author must be able to publish any report in full.

As many as seven professional football clubs are now embroiled in the growing child sex abuse scandal, with more than 20 former players alleging that they were victims. Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association, said: “We’d start at Crewe, go to Man City, Stoke, Blackpool, Newcastle, Leeds ... I’m expecting there will be more.”

The FA stepped up its response to the crisis by appointing lawyer Kate Gallafent QC to assist with its review into historical child sex abuse allegations dating back to the Seventies. Fifa is to monitor the situation.

Last week Andy Woodward became the first ex-player to speak out about abuse he suffered at the hands of convicted paedophile Barry Bennell, a former Crewe Alexandra coach who was jailed three times in 20 years for abusing young boys.

Others who have made allegations against Bennell include former Manchester City star David White, ex-Crewe player Steve Walters, youth players Chris Unsworth and Jason Dunford and Anthony Hughes, who represented England at the 1993 World Youth Championships. Former England international Paul Stewart has also alleged he was sexually abused by a coach.

The Premier League said it was “very concerned” by the claims. The Metropolitan police and forces in Hampshire, Northumbria and Cheshire said they were investigating abuse allegations.

An FA spokesman said: “With acknowledgement that a wide-ranging inquiry may be required in time, we are working closely with the police to support their lead investigations and must ensure we do not do anything to interfere with or jeopardise the criminal process.” </s> Cheshire police's investigation into alleged historical sexual abuse in football has now been joined by three other forces around the UK.

And Crewe Alexandra have said they will launch an independent review of the way it dealt with historical child abuse allegations.

Andy Woodward, who played for Crewe, Sheffield United and Scunthorpe United, revealed last week that he suffered multiple attacks at the hands of scout and coach Barry Bennell while a youngster at Crewe Alexandra.

Now London's Metropolitan Police, Hampshire Police and Northumbria Police have all confirmed they are investigating allegations.

And Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney urged anyone who may have suffered abuse to come forward.

He tweeted: "My colleagues have been very brave. If you’ve experienced sexual abuse in football, please call NSPCC ’s new helpline on 0800 023 2642"

The Metropolitan Police, Britain's biggest force, said it "has received information relating to non-recent sexual abuse in football clubs in London". Scotland Yard did not name any of the clubs involved.

Hampshire Police said its detectives are investigating non-recent child abuse "within the football community".

Northumbria Police said it was investigating an allegation by an unnamed former Newcastle United player that he was abused in the club's youth system.

And Cheshire Police said it had received "a growing number of disclosures" and that allegations have been "made against more than one individual".

The national inquiry into child sexual abuse said it was "watching events closely" and opened the door to examining allegations in the growing scandal.

A string of former footballers have come forward since Andy Woodward became the first to speak out last week about abuse he suffered at the hands of convicted child abuser Barry Bennell, a former Crewe Alexandra coach.

The Guardian said an unnamed former Newcastle United player had contacted police to make allegations against George Ormond, a coach in the North East who was jailed for six years in 2002 for carrying out numerous assaults across a 24-year period.

Newcastle United FC said they would co-operate with authorities "if or when the club receives further information".

Some of the claims have come from the NSPCC which this week set up a dedicated hotline - on 0800 023 2642 - for football-related cases.

The Premier League said it is "very concerned" by allegations and offered its sympathy and support to those who have come forward."

Adding to the concerns about the depth and scale of the scandal are reports in the Daily Telegraph that leading football clubs made secret payments to buy the silence of young players sexually abused by coaches.

The paper states that, according to an unnamed source, a number of clubs, including at least one Premier League team, had paid compensation to footballers but only after victims had signed confidentiality agreements so strict that along with their families and lawyers they are banned from saying publicly if the cases even existed.

Former Manchester City youth team player Jason Dunford claimed the scandal is bigger than the one involving former broadcaster Jimmy Savile.

Mr Dunford, who said he had been staying at a Butlins holiday camp after winning a football competition when he alleges Bennell attempted to touch him in bed, told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme: "I believe there was a conspiracy and paedophile ring.

"I think Savile looks like a choirboy compared to this fella.

"There were people at those clubs who had a duty to look after boys coming through their system."

Chris Unsworth, 44, a former Crewe youngster who has also made allegations against Bennell, claimed it was "swept under the carpet".

Ex-England and Manchester City players David White and Paul Stewart and former Crewe Alexandra player Steve Walters have also spoken out about being sexually abused by football coaches as children.

Bennell, who worked for Crewe, Manchester City, Stoke and several junior teams in north-west England and the Midlands, sexually abused young boys across three decades from the 1970s onwards.

He was given a four-year sentence for raping a British boy on a football tour of Florida in 1994 and then a nine-year sentence for 23 offences against six boys in England in 1998.

He was jailed for a third time in 2015 when he pleaded guilty to abusing a boy at a football camp in Macclesfield in 1980.

Crewe's director of football, Dario Gradi said the club would be carrying out an internal investigation. Manchester City said it was also reviewing Bennell's links with the club.

Operation Hydrant, which oversees the investigation of allegations of historical child sex abuse within institutions or by people of public prominence, is trying to pinpoint the scale of the alleged abuse.

It has been in touch with all forces in England and Wales asking them to forward details of the allegations they have received following the recent publicity. </s> The Football Association has appointed an independent legal counsel, Kate Gallafent QC, to assist its review into historical child abuse allegations.

Ms Gallafent will oversee the association’s internal review into claims of sexual abuse made by a growing number of former youth footballers.

The FA suggested a fully-fledged inquiry may follow but the initial review would explore “what information the FA was aware of at the relevant times around the issues that have been raised in the press, what clubs were aware of, and what action was or should have been taken.”

Ms Gallafent will then provide recommendations “to ensure these situations can never be repeated”.

A string of former footballers have come forward since Andy Woodward became the first to speak out last week about abuse he suffered at the hands of convicted child abuser Barry Bennell, a former Crewe Alexandra coach.

Bennell, who worked for Crewe, Manchester City, Stoke and junior teams in north-west England and the Midlands, abused young boys from the 1970s onwards. He was jailed for four years for raping a British boy on a 1994 football tour of Florida, and given a nine-year sentence for 23 offences against six boys in England in 1998.

He was jailed for a third time in 2015 after admitting abusing a boy at a 1980 football camp in Macclesfield.

The Guardian reported that an unnamed former Newcastle United player had also contacted police with allegations against George Ormond, a North East coach jailed for six years in 2002 for carrying out numerous assaults spanning 24 years.

A “significant” number of other alleged victims of abuse are likely to come forward and other sporting governing bodies may report similar problems, said Chief Constable Simon Bailey, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) lead for child protection.
The Football Association sets up an internal inquiry into allegations of sexual abuse in English football.