Football sex abuse cops identify 83 suspects in connection with historical offences
POLICE officers have identified 83 potential suspects in connection with allegations of historical child sexual abuse in football.
The news was confirmed by The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) this morning.
"Allegations received by police forces across the country are being swiftly acted upon," said chief constable Simon Bailey, the lead for the NPCC.
"We are ensuring an efficient and effective service-wide approach to investigating allegations, removing the potential for duplication and enabling the timely and effective sharing of intelligence and information between forces.
"We are also liaising closely with the Football Association to ensure all relevant information they hold is shared to inform investigations moving forward."
Clubs spanning all tiers of the game have been "impacted", according to figures released by the NPCC.
The policing body said that 98% of those identified as victims are male and the age range for potential victims at the time of alleged abuse spans from as young as seven to 20.
Mr Bailey added: "We continue to urge anyone who may have been a victim of child sexual abuse to report it by dialling 101, or contacting the dedicated NSPCC helpline, regardless of how long ago the abuse may have taken place.
"We will listen and treat all reports sensitively and seriously. Anyone with any information regarding child sexual abuse is also urged to come forward."
98 clubs are being probed, the NPCC said.
The news comes after Chelsea admitted paying £50,000 hush money to former player Gary Johnson, who was assaulted by the club’s then-chief scout Eddie Heath in the 1970s.
And four more pro clubs are believed to have struck similar confidentiality deals with the victims of sexual abuse.
Edward Smethurst, lawyer for Offside Trust, a group representing youngsters who were attacked, believes the extent of the scandal is only beginning to emerge.
Smethurst, flanked by other sufferers, including ex-Crewe starlets Andy Woodward and Steve Walters, said: "Victims who have come forward to us have made mention of confidentiality clauses being used.
They are now wanting to come forward because they believe the use of those clauses was inappropriate.
"We need to sit down with those clients, look at the documentation and see what evidence there was, but we have been told by a number of victims that these clauses have been used.
"Where there is something of a very, very serious criminal nature involving children there is an over-arching need for transparency so that others can come forward.
"There may be other people involved.
"Are there people involved in the game today where victims have made specific allegations? The answer is yes."
Nicola Sturgeon yesterday ruled out an immediate public probe into the child sex abuse.
The First Minister told MSPs she would not extend the current inquiry into historical attacks in kids' homes and residential schools to include football clubs as it would become too big.
Ms Sturgeon said: "To widen the remit of that inquiry would mean that it would take perhaps many years longer to conclude its investigations and would risk it becoming completely unwieldy.
"We would be at risk I think of breaking our word to the survivors of in-care abuse.
"My view is we should allow that inquiry to get on with its job and we should allow the police to get on with investigating allegations of abuse in football."
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368