INQUIRY WANT PFA FILES ON CHILD ABUSE IN FOOTBALL

THE FA’s inquiry into historic sex abuse has written to the Professional Footballers’ Association and is investigating the union’s involvement in the crisis. As pressure grows on under-fire chief executive Gordon Taylor, Clive Sheldon QC, who is heading the inquiry, has requested PFA documents over football’s sex abuse scandal. Following the revelations about sex predators such as Barry Bennell and Frank Roper, the FA instructed Sheldon to oversee an inquiry in which he is scrutinising the role of clubs and English football’s governing body. However, it has now emerged that Sheldon has also requested the co-operation of the PFA as he seeks to ascertain whether football’s major institutions could have done more to protect their youngsters. Dino Nocivelli, who is representing several former players in legal cases against clubs, has questioned whether the PFA have acted ‘when players have needed them the most’. In March, the Operation Jailed: Barry Hydrant figures for the Bennell potential number of victims of sexual abuse in football stood at an extraordinary 849. It is not known when Sheldon’s team wrote to the PFA, but his inquiry into historic abuse may reflect on the PFA’s response — or perceived failure to respond — to the 1997 Dispatches documentary presented by journalist Deborah Davies. Davies spoke to a number of Bennell’s victims and revealed many of his offences. She has previously been quoted as saying: ‘I wasn’t aware of any serious commitment by Gordon Taylor to investigate.’ Sheldon and his team of barristers may also delve into whether the PFA showed curiosity after Bennell, a former coach at Manchester City and Crewe, was convicted in 1994 by Jacksonville authorities in the United States. The PFA did not respond to a request for comment.