Lawyers say they could amount to crimes

The actions Sir Philip is accused of would be criminal offences if proved, say legal experts.

Matthew Hardcastle, of Kingsley Napley, said: “Grabbing the bottom is most likely to be sexual assault by touching.”

On the racial abuse claims, Nicola O’connor, of Russell Cooke, said: “There are public order offences for racial abuse.”

Siobhan Egan, director at Lewis Nedas Law, said of putting somebody in a headlock in circumstances where there was no element of play fighting or consent: “That would be an assault.”