FA’S new guidelines

THE FA has urgently beefed up its safeguarding procedures in the wake of the latest abuse revelations. New measures include a support service for survivors of childhood abuse – such as Andy Woodward, Steve Walters, Chris Unsworth and Jason Dunford, who all helped lift the lid on the shocking extent of Barry Bennell’s horrendous crimes. The FA has also set up an external review, led by a senior independent lawyer, to consider the organisation’s role in safeguarding and childprotection matters up until 2005. As an additional safety net, every club in the country now has to actively demonstrate their compliance with all FA safeguarding procedures.

The Premier League also has stringent safeguarding measures in place, many dating back to more than a decade before Bennell’s deeds were first brought to light.

These include record checks on youth coaches and adherence to NSPCC safeguarding principles.