The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Man held in sex abuse probe
Investigation: Arrest in Aberdeen as part of nationwide football inquiry
A man has been arrested in Aberdeen as part of a nationwide investigation into child sex abuse in football.
Police Scotland launched a major inquiry at the end of last year following claims by former players across the UK they were abused by people in positions of authority or trust in the sport in the past.
Officers north of the border are probing 130 separate alleged incidents of abuse, but believe more will be uncovered.
Police have said a “significant number of perpetrators" have already been identified.
One man in Aberdeen and one in Paisley have been arrested as a result of the investigation.
Police have issued no further information on the arrests.
Professional clubs across Scotland have launched their own internal investigations, and the Scottish Football Association is setting up an independent review into allegations.
Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Taylor, of the national child abuse investigation unit, said: “Our ongoing investigation into non-recent child abuse in football has to date received 130 reports.
“It is difficult to estimate the true scale of non-recent
“Child abuse is incredibly difficult for people to revisit and talk about”
child sexual abuse in football, but we have identified a significant number of perpetrators and victims throughout football and across Scotland, and we believe there are more people who may wish to report.
“Child abuse is incredibly difficult for people to revisit and talk about.
“Our officers are highly specialist and are trained to deal with all reports sensitively.
“We would ask anyone who has been the victim of abuse or has information about potential abuse to contact us. We will listen and we will investigate, and our first priority will be to ensure that there are no children at risk now.”