England Football Association (FA) have described the damning findings of an independent review into child abuse within football as ‘a dark day for the beautiful game.’
Clive Sheldon QC’s report found ‘significant institutional failings’ in that the FA reacted too slow to implement ‘appropriate and sufficient child protection measures’ and failed to ensure that child safeguarding was handled ‘sufficiently seriously’ by people working within English Football.
The report also found that the FA failed to act to ban Barry Bennell and Bob Higgins from football, following Bennell’s release from prison in 2003 and failure to review Higgins’ case concerning abuse at Southampton and Peterborough United following an amendment of disciplinary rules that very same year.
Sheldon also noted that there was no evidence of an alleged “paedophile ring” despite several perpetrators knowing each other, adding: “I do not consider that perpetrators shared boys with one another for sexual purposes or shared information with one another that would have facilitated child sexual abuse.”
This report which was commissioned by the FA focused on abuse of children within the game between 1970-2005.
FA Chief Executive, Mark Bullingham in response to the report described it as ‘a dark day’ for the sport which must be acknowledged and ‘ensure’ that ‘everything possible’ is done to prevent future repeats of this scandal.
Bullingham also addressed Survivors of child abuse within football directly with a ‘heartfelt apology’ on behalf of the FA and English game, saying: “You have the deepest admiration of the FA. Your bravery throughout this process has been incredible. Your voices have been so powerful.”
Bullingham went on to describe the abuse as ‘horrific’ and ‘deeply upsetting’ in that the sport failed to provide adequate protection that survivors deserved, thus causing ‘damage’ for victims and their families.
Referring to a famous quote which states: ‘For evil to flourish simply requires that good people do nothing’, Bullingham noted that too many examples features throughout the report and expressed that there should be ‘no excuse’ for the failings of bystanders.
The FA went on to hail those who came forward as ‘courageous’ ‘trailblazers’ for providing testimonies which enables fresh understanding on ‘horrifying abuse’ that they suffered whilst ‘playing the game you loved.’
Survivors who contributed to the report were also praised for their ‘direct impact on investigations’ in that detailing these crimes and manipulative behaviours will help ensure that abuse within football ‘is less likely to happen in the future.’
Their actions have seen several coaches brought to justice from Barry Bennell who is serving a life sentence to Bob Higgins and George Ormond who are currently serving 24 and 20-year jail sentences respectively, whilst others have been charged and where appropriate banned from football.
Concluding the FA’s response, Bullingham issued an apology for the fact that their stories had been silenced for so long, saying: “You deserve to be heard and to be given answers, a long time before today.”
Bullingham also iterated that an investigation should of taken place when accusations were first raised in the 1990s.
‘Extremely Sorry’
English Football League (EFL) also released a response in which they accept Sheldon’s 13 recommendations, including safeguarding training for all managers, coaches and players.
EFL also spoke of how football is meant to be ‘a safe environment’ for all players of any age but acknowledged how ‘extremely sorry’ that they’re for the abuse and pain endured by survivors throughout their lives.
Those at the EFL also spoke of how these crimes and the findings of this report should serve as a reminder of risks that remains present in not just football but across society, whilst praising the courage of those who came forward which will help the sport try and ensure that these scandals can’t be repeated in future.
Safeguarding policies and strategy developed within the EFL and its member clubs in the years since the ‘harrowing’ abuse took place will be ‘continually’ reviewed’ moving forwards with implementation as a minimum where not in place already.