Chelsea football club issued a statement on Tuesday apologizing for child sexual and racial abuse that occurred in the club between the 1970s and 1990s
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 06th August, 2019) Chelsea football club issued a statement on Tuesday apologizing for child sexual and racial abuse that occurred in the club between the 1970s and 1990s."Following the disclosures of non-recent child sexual abuse perpetrated at the Club in the 1970s, we set out our intention to do the right thing - to fully support those affected and carry out an exhaustive investigation into what occurred to en sure that abhorrent abuse like this can never happen again," the statement read.
According to the review, Eddie Heath, who worked for the club in the 1970s and died in early 1980s, was a dangerous child abuser.
Chelsea's board of Directors also asked the Barnardo's UK-based child charity organization to investigate racial abuse in the club.
"Based on the evidence available, Barnardo's found that there is overwhelming information indicating that a member of staff at the Club during the 1980s and 1990s subjected young players to bullying and racially abusive behavior. Furthermore, this took place in an environment where racially abusive behavior became normalized and there was an absence of the safeguarding systems and structures that exist today," the statement read further.
The club apologized to all players who experienced such behavior.
"We are doing, and will continue to do, everything we can to ensure that those boys, girls, men and women who play for this Club - and indeed anyone who works for or with the Club - will never have to endure the terrible experiences which these young players suffered," the statement read.
Chelsea is one of the oldest English football clubs founded in 1905 and is among England's most successful clubs.
