New allegations against Chelsea Football Club

The Mirror has reported that allegations of abuse have been made against another person who was involved with Chelsea Football Club. Previously Chelsea was dealing with allegations of abuse made against Eddie Heath, a former chief scout at the club during the 1970's. 

The Football Association have now launched an inquiry into child abuse in sport. The terms of reference can be seen at:-

http://www.thefa.com/news/2016/dec/05/fa-statement-terms-of-reference-061216

The Football Association are also working with Operation Hydrant, the police investigation into allegations of abuse in football. 

http://www.thefa.com/news/2016/dec/01/operation-hydrant-phonecalls-nspcc-hotline-simon-bailey

The Football Association's guidance "Grassroots Football Safeguarding Children" is accessible on their website together with other policy documents that they publish for affiliated football clubs up and down the country. The "Grassroots" policy document is comprehensive, running into seven sections and with ten appendices. However, as I read through it, it soon becomes clear that the policy is aimed at children and young persons.

There was nothing about dealing with historic abuse allegations from many years back, which are made by adults. That is not to say that the Football Association are not interested in investigating these allegations - quite the reverse as their inquiry's terms of reference makes clear - but their Grassroots guidance is about the protection of children and young persons in the game at present. 

Chelsea Football Club also have their own child protection policy "Safeguarding Children Policy & Procedures". Once again this policy is comprehensive, and it deals with issues such as social media, the use of photography and the radicalisation of children. It  repeats the mantra "Taking No Action is Not an Option". 

However like the Football Association's guidance, Chelsea's guidance is centered around children and young people playing in the game at present. This is no comfort to those former players who allegations go back decades.