Ex-coach Bennell charged with child abuse

LONDON: Former coach Barry Bennell, who is at the centre of a scandal rocking English football, was on Tuesday charged with eight counts of child abuse, prosecutors said.

Bennell, who has already served three jail terms for previous child sex offences, has faced a slew of new allegations by at least 20 former footballers spanning three decades beginning in the 1970s when he was working for Crewe Alexandra, Manchester City and Stoke City.

“Following a review of the evidence, in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, Mr Bennell, 62, has today been charged with eight offences of sexual assault against a boy under the age of 14,” said a statement from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Bennell, who it was revealed on Monday had to be hospitalised when he was found unconscious in a hotel near London, will appear in court on December 14.

The latest charges stem from Cheshire Police but six other police forces are investigating accusations made against Bennell in a scandal Football Association Chairman Greg Clarke has called “the greatest crisis” in English football he could recall.

Former Newcastle player Derek Bell, who waived his anonymity to the Guardian, claimed he was subjected to “horrendous” sexual abuse at his local boys football club in the 1970s.

We need more firepower to win — Wee Kiong

KUALA LUMPUR: Top national doubles player Tan Wee Kiong admitted his combination with V Shem can do with more aggressive power play to win major tournaments.

Despite suffering several setbacks in the Super Series recently, he said the pair was still combining well, even though the results did no favour them.

He said the world number one ranking did not give them any pressure and it in fact made them more matured in their strategy to win more titles.

“I know the results of some recent Super Series were not very good, we need to be more powerful and aggressive after this.

“To us what matters is winning tournaments,” he told reporters after a training session at Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara here yesterday.

The Rio Olympics silver medallists are down to be in action from on December 14 to 18 at the Super Series Finals in Dubai.

Also qualifying for the finals is Datuk Lee Chong Wei for the men’s singles title.

Wee Kiong said he hoped the combination with V Shem would be maintained even after the finals in Dubai.

“This is our first appearance at the Super Series Finals, I hope we will clear the early rounds to enter the final,” Wee Kiong said. – Bernama