Two Liverpool youth players to be investigated over sex claims

School launches inquiry after complaints about the ‘inappropriate behaviour’ of the club’s rising stars

TWO of Liverpool Football Club’s youth players are under investigation allegedly for sexually harassing female teachers and young girls at the school they attend.

Rainhill High School in Merseyside has launched an inquiry into both rising stars of the Premier League club following allegations about inappropriate sexual comments and behaviour. Whistleblowers told The Daily Telegraph how staff and pupils had complained about the conduct of the club’s young players but that the school management had been slow to act.

In one case, it was claimed that the Liverpool players acted in a sexually intimidating manner toward a group of 11-year-old girls during their sports lesson, parading around with shirts off and trousers undone. It was alleged they were shouting and swearing.

In another instance, one player allegedly sexually harassed a female teacher. The school was made aware of both these cases after staff made formal complaints.

A source close to the school told The Daily Telegraph: “They are really big, well-built lads and they have been intimidating staff and pupils, making sexualised comments aimed at them, and jeering.

“A lot of people feel that the behaviour is out of control. It has really escalated. We have been told that the club is taking it seriously.”

The source told how the Liverpool youth players had also been responsible for “horrendous” vandalism.

“There is a lot of anti-social behaviour: kicking balls at windows and smashing them, kicking balls at children,” they said.

The school is the nominated place for players enrolled at Liverpool Football Club’s academy.

Another source said that “the lads do whatever they want” while the school’s management “turns a blind eye”. They added: “The attitude is that ‘boys will be boys’.”

The source told how they witnessed two of the club’s young players shouting crude sexual comments at a female student. “The incident was reported but nothing was done,” they said.

Staff wrote to Ofsted, the schools inspectorate, to alert them about their concerns, and that triggered inquiries from the local council about safeguarding, The Telegraph understands.

A spokesman for Ofsted said it could not comment on individual cases, but added that it brought any concerns, relating to safeguarding or allegations of abuse, to the attention of the local authority social services and the police.

The school was last inspected in 2014 when it was ranked “good”, with inspectors noting that “the curriculum provides some outstanding opportunities for students’ spiritual, moral social and cultural development and prepares them well for life in modern Britain”.

Inspectors said that “safeguarding, particularly of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged students, is strong”, adding that all statutory requirements were met by the school.

A spokesman for Liverpool FC said: “We are aware Rainhill High School is currently looking into complaints made against two of their pupils who are also young players at Liverpool.

“The club will allow the school to conclude its own inquiries in the first instance before considering their find- ings.

“Until the school completes its own process, the club will not be making any further comment.”

A St Helens council spokesperson said: “The council can confirm that no investigations are currently being carried out at Rainhill High School in relation to safeguarding concerns.”

Rainhill High School did not respond to requests for comment.