Pervs groom Prem footie clubs’ teens
KIDS FACE APP THREAT
PREMIER League club youth players are being targeted by perverts using social media to pose as agents and scouts.
The paedophiles use apps such as Snapchat to contact youngsters online – promising to further their football careers if they sign with them.
But the promise of fame is a lure to gain access for grooming the aspiring stars.
Adam Green, head of safeguarding at Everton, said players at the Merseyside club had been targeted in recent months.
He said: “On Snapchat it just says a name like Ben at the top.
“The messages say: ‘I’m from an agency representing players from Manchester and London and we have offices in both places and we’ve been watching you with interest and we’re interested in signing ® you for this agency. Don’t tell your dad. Don’t tell the club.’”
He added Everton’s safeguarding team received 126 “statements of concern” last season from young players.
Mr Green added: “The threat now is that paedophiles have migrated to Instagram and Snapchat.”
Young players have also been caught out by gangs posing as women via webcams.
They then demand tens of thousands of pounds to not share intimate pictures of the young players on the internet.
Mr Green said: “There have been cases coming to court of academy footballers from all different clubs being told they had to pay £50,000 if they don’t want their penis pictures plastered all over the internet.”