English FA sets up probe into football sex abuse scandal

The governing body of English football announced Sunday it has appointed a leading top level lawyer to head an investigation into a sexual abuse scandal rocking the game.

In a statement issued from its headquarters at London's Wembley Stadium, the Football Association (FA) said independent law barrister Kate Gallafent is to assist it with a review into the abuse cases which have recently come to light.

The move comes as the number of people who have contacted a special telephone hotline to report abuse passed 100.

The FA said: "The FA had already initiated an internal review which Ms Gallafent will now oversee, while it continues to also prioritise victim support and providing full assistance to on-going police inquiries.

"At this time, with acknowledgement that a wide-ranging inquiry may be required in time, we are working closely with the police to support their lead in investigations and must ensure we do not do anything to interfere with or jeopardise the criminal process."

The FA said its internal review will look into what information the FA was aware of at the relevant times around the issues that have been raised in the media, what clubs were aware of, and what action was or should have been taken. Gallafent will make recommendations in order to seek to ensure these situations can never be repeated.

The Child Protection in Sport Unit, which has assisted The FA in relation to its safeguarding procedures since 2000, will also be carrying out an independent audit into the FA's current practices to ensure that all practices are at the highest standard.

The FA added that the launch, earlier this week, of a free, independent helpline follows a number of former footballers bravely speaking out about the abuse they suffered as young footballers.

The helpline offers support and guidance for adults who were victims of childhood sexual abuse within the game at all levels from grassroots to Premier League and is a safe space for any further whistleblowing.

The sex scandal came to light when former professional player Andy Woodward revealed he had been sexually abused as a boy by Barry Bennell who was youth coach with league club Crewe Alexandra. His revelation led to other ex-players coming forward to say they had also been abused as boys, one claiming he had been raped more than 100 times. Bennell has served a number of prison sentences for sexual abuse.

So far four police forces in Britain, including the country's biggest police force, London's Metropolitan Police, have confirmed they are looking into allegations made against "more than one football coach".

Crewe Alexandra, the club at the center of the scandal, has also announced it is to hold to an independent review into the way they dealt with historical sex abuse allegations, some going back to the 1970s.

Former England and Tottenham Hotspur player Paul Stewart, 52, said in a media interview this week he was sexually abused as a youth player by another football coach. Stewart, who also played for Manchester City and Liverpool, claims the unnamed coach abused him daily for four years.

Former Manchester City striker David White, 49, has alleged he was also sexually abused by Bennell in the late 1970s and early 1980s, while playing for a junior team in Manchester.

The players have waived their anonymity to speak out about what happened to them as young footballers. Endit