Legal team in abuse inquiry need therapy

THE lawyer leading the review into football’s sex abuse scandal is to be given counselling as the harrowing inquiry is extended.

Clive Sheldon QC was appointed in December to run the probe, which was due to be handed to the FA at the turn of the year, but will now be completed by April at the earliest.

Sources close to the inquiry nquiry say speaking to victimss of abuse and hearing the he devastating impact it t has had on their lives has been difficult to deal with.

Sheldon and his staff, who have listened to stories of suicide, addiction and failed d marriages — along withth detailed accounts of the abuse — will be given therapy herapy and psychological support to try to prevent post-traumatic stress.

The review, which is expected to cost about £1million, has been hampered because four of the 46 county associations have failed to respond to requests for information lodged in May.

It has also emerged that victims of abuse have disclosed to the review names of people still working in the game. These have been passed to the police.

Some of those named are alleged abusers while others have been accused of failing to act when allegations were made.

Sheldon was tasked with carrying out the review last year following thousands of sex abuse allegations dating back to the 1950s.

As part of the probe, 9,000 boxes at the FA’s archive in Rainham are being examined, with 2,000 yet to be opened.

Sheldon’s main focus is on what the FA knew about allegations and what tthey did about them betwbetween the 1970s and 2002005. He will pass his fifindings on to the goveerning body, who will ddecide what action to take and how much of the report to publish.

Senior FA officials say tthere will be no attempt to keep information frofrom the public. SheSheldon will be using 10 to 12 cascase studies in the review, which will also probe whether a national paedophile ring existed.

He is liaising with a similar probe into abuse in Scotland and will also speak to people who worked at the FA’s Lilleshall School of Excellence, which closed in 1999.

The inquiry, which reached out to more than 65,000 FA- affiliated clubs, is also looking at claims of abuse within the women’s game.

The inquiry team remain keen to speak to anyone with relevant information. To get in touch, email football@sportresolutions.co.uk