‘Several’ clubs accused of hush-up
Print Edition
THERE are claims “several” British football clubs have used gagging orders to silence victims of sexual abuse at the hands of youth coaches, a lawyer working with victims has said.
Chelsea has apologized to former player Gary Johnson, who was abused by late chief scout Eddie Heath, after waiving a confidentiality clause in a 50,000-pound (US$63,850) agreement it made with him.
Lawyer Edward Smethurst, who helped set up the Offside Trust for abuse victims, said players forced to sign non-disclosure agreements in return for compensation were coming forward “all the time”.
“Certainly, the allegations have been made by victims that confidentiality clauses have been used in relation to other clubs, but I’m not in a position to independently verify this,” he was quoted as saying by British newspapers yesterday.
“It’s unfolding as we speak. It’s a number. It’s several, (but) less than five.”
The Offside Trust, set up by abuse victims Andy Woodward, Steve Walters and Chris Unsworth, was launched in Manchester on Monday.
Since Woodward came forward three weeks ago to reveal he was abused by convicted pedophile Barry Bennell during his time at Crewe Alexandra, a wave of allegations has swept through British football.
Eighteen British police forces are probing claims of sexual abuse spanning four decades and lines of inquiry are reportedly being pursued at 55 clubs.
Queens Park Rangers is the latest club to have been touched by the scandal, the London side revealing it has been made aware of allegations against former chief scout Chris Gieler, who died in 2004.
“The club takes these allegations very seriously and will cooperate fully in any forthcoming investigation,” the second-tier club said in a statement. “Any form of abuse has no place in football or society.”
Smethurst, who is based in Manchester, said the same names were being repeated by abuse victims and some alleged abusers were still working at the highest levels of the sport.
“There are specific allegations against specific individuals, many of whom have been rumored to be involved for a long time, some of whom still work in the senior echelons of football, and it’s extremely worrying.”
England’s Football Association announced yesterday that a new lawyer has been placed in charge of its internal review of the scandal. Barrister Clive Sheldon has replaced Kate Gallafent “in the light of the increased scope of the review” and “with respect to her other professional commitments”.
Sheldon’s previous work includes a number of investigatory reviews involving matters of child protection and safeguarding.
The FA also revealed the terms of reference for its review, which will “commence immediately” but has no fixed deadline.
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