By Benoit Desaint on March 18, 2021 at 11:19 AM
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In an investigation report led by lawyer Clive Sheldon into the sexual abuse of minors committed in English football from 1970 to 2005, 8 clubs were charged with inaction, including Manchester City and Chelsea.
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Manchester City et Chelsea are currently in great shape in England. The club led by Pep Guardiola is the undisputed leader of the Premier League, 14 points ahead of United, and is preparing a major transfer window with an envelope dedicated to completely crazy transfers. For his part, Roman Abramovitch, who is among the 10 richest club owners in the world, sees his Blues being transcended by the arrival of Thomas Tuchel. The German, who tackled PSG as soon as he arrived on the London bench, brings a refreshing second breath to Olivier Giroud and others.
A scandal of sexual abuse of minors from 1970 to 2005
But the two clubs have just been incriminated in a vast scandal of sexual abuse of minors across the Channel. A long report of 710 pages and bringing together at least 692 victims and 240 suspects over a long period of 35 years (1970-2005) has just been disclosed. It was led by attorney Clive Sheldon after the wave of testimony that emerged in 2016. 8 clubs are incriminated for inaction in the file. Among them, Manchester City and Chelsea.
Manchester City and Chelsea accused of inaction
The report states ” significant institutional failures for which there is no excuse Manchester City are accused of failing to investigate, despite persistent rumors, into Barry Bennell, recruiter and coach for the club at the time, and condemned to 30 years in prison in 2018 for 50 sexual assaults committed on 12 young boys from 1979 to 1981.
Regarding Chelsea, the London club are suspected of not having taken action despite the testimony in the 70s of a young player about Eddie Heath’s actions, scout with the Blues from 1968 to 1979.
Aston Villa, Southampton and Newcastle also incriminated
The two Premier League leaders are not not the only ones incriminated by the report. Teams recognized across the Channel as Aston Villa, Southampton et Newcastle are also accused of inaction. Clive Sheldon, the lawyer behind the investigation, also called into question the failings of the English football association:
“The federation has acted too slowly to take appropriate and sufficient measures to protect children. From the testimonies of these survivors, I retain the fear, fear and threats made against them or that of their families in order to break their careers. “
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