Child sex abuse: other sports may be investigated

The scandal surrounding claims of historical child sex abuse in football could spread to other sports, a senior officer has warned.

Chief Constable Simon Bailey, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for child protection, said a “significant” number of other alleged victims of abuse were likely to come forward and further sporting governing bodies might report similar problems.

Four forces are now investigating allegations of historical child sex abuse in football.

A string of former footballers have come forward since Andy Woodward became the first to speak out last week about abuse he suffered at the hands of convicted child abuser Barry Bennell, a former Crewe Alexandra coach.

Mr Bailey added: “We, as a country, are now having to deal with the legacy of non- recent sexual abuse and the thousands of allegations that we are now seeing across the country.”

The Metropolitan Police, Hampshire police and Cheshire police have said they are investigating allegations of abuse in the football community.

The Northumbrian force said it was investigating an allegation by an unnamed former Newcastle United player that he was abused in the club’s youth system.

It has been reported an unnamed former Newcastle player had contacted police to make allegations against George Ormond, a coach in the North East who was jailed for six years in 2002 for carrying out numerous assaults across a 24-year period.

Newcastle United FC have said they will co-operate with authorities “if or when the club receives further information”.

Some of the claims have come from the NSPCC which this week set up a dedicated hotline – on 0800 023 2642 – for footballrelated cases.

The Premier League said it was “very concerned” by the allegations.

A former Crewe board member said the club had been told Bennell had sexually abused one of its junior footballers.

Hamilton Smith, who was on the board between 1986 and 1990, is reported to have called for a meeting after being told a boy had been abused.

Bennell was allowed to stay on, but orders were issued that he should not be left alone with boys, Mr Smith said.

He added: “This was discussed at the club’s top level and, as much as I tried to resolve this, regrettably I couldn’t.

“I dread to think how many victims there are, and my heart goes out to them.”

One national newspaper has also claimed leading football clubs made secret payments to buy the silence of young players sexually abused by coaches.