Through the net to attack children

world of football was plunged into scandal last November with a series of former professionals revealing they were sexually abused as youth players.

The first to waive his right to anonymity was former Crewe, Bury and Sheffield United player Andy Woodward, 43.

Crisis

After he spoke out, several other footballers followed suit,, includingg f ormer mer England and Tottenham tenham midfielder Paul Stewart, wart, 52, and exManchester nchester City striker Davidvid White, 49.

Stewart tewart said he believed ieved the sport couldld be facing a crisis on the scale of the Jimmy my Savile scandal.

A hotline was set up and investigations are beingng co- ordinated d by the National Police Chiefs’ Council. So far 252 suspects and 560 victims have been identified. But t he Sunday People investigation using local authority records shows the scandal stretches across virtually every sport. Offside Trust boss and former victim Chris Unsworth said: “Too often we have been told that our horrific experiences could not be repeated today. “But But these new revelations prove that we must do more to keep our children safe.” Chris added that it was likely our figures rep represent only the tip of the icebergic as many victims w will not have spoken to the authorities. A spokesman fo for the NSPCC, which is figh fighting to close loopholes i in the checking sy system, said:said “We wantw the Government to extend trust laws – which do not apply to sports coaches or other youth leaders – so they cannot lawfully have sex with 16 and 17-year-olds in their care.”

Under child protection laws every council must have a designated officer to co-ordinate the response to fears that an adult working with children may have caused harm.

All allegations that come to the attention of an employer or made directly to the police must be immediately reported to the designated officer.

Chief Constable Simon Bailey, the police chiefs’ head of child protection, said: “We urge anyone who may have been a victim of child sexual abuse to report it by dialling 101 or contacting the NSPCC helpline, regardless of how long ago the abuse may have taken place.

“We can guarantee that we will listen and treat all reports sensitively and seriously.”