Sunday, November 27, 2016

FA sets up an internal inquiry into allegations of sexual abuse in football


The Football Association has set up an internal inquiry into
allegations of sexual abuse in football.

A number of former players have come forward over the last
week to say they were abused as youngsters.

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  organisation also announced it has appointed Kate
Gallafent QC to assist it with the review.

The decision follows that of Crewe Alexandra to hold an
independent review into the way they dealt with historical sex
abuse allegations.

The club's former youth coach Barry Bennell has been at the
centre of the allegatiions.

In 1998, Bennell, now 62, was jailed for nine years at Chester
crown court after admitting 23 charges of sexual offences
against six boys aged nine to 15.

The period of abuse spanned 1978 to 1992 as he toured the
North West and Midlands, talent-spotting boys, aged nine to
14, for junior football teams.

At least six footballers have come forward with allegations of
sexual abuse following revelations made by Andy Woodward.

Soon after, Steve Walters and David White all went public
about suffering alleged abuse at the hands of the convicted
paedophile.

Former Newcastle United man Jason Dunford - who started
his career at Crewe - and Chris Unsworth, who also was a
trainee at the Railwaymen, have also come forward about
being allegedly attacked by Bennell.

They claim they were abused as youth players, and told how
this contributed to not reaching a professional level.

Three forces - Cheshire Police, Hampshire Police and
Northumbria Police have all launched investigations.

A national inquiry has also been opened into allegations of
child sex abuse within football, as the probe looks at an
"institutional failure to protect children".

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse will look
into the "failure of sports clubs" after a string of footballers
came forward to accuse a former coach.

Source : mirror. Co.uk

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