Chelsea paid ‘hush money’

LONDON: A former Chelsea footballer said he was paid £50 000 (R880 000) by the club to “keep a lid” on sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of its former chief scout.

Gary Johnson, who is now 57, said he was groomed and sexually assaulted repeatedly every week by Eddie Heath from the age of 13 until he was 16 or 17. Heath is now dead.

It is the latest development in a scandal sparked by former professionals going public over the last two weeks about the ordeals they went through as youngsters in youth soccer.

About 350 people have reported incidents of sexual abuse at soccer clubs. – ANA-AP