A child sexual abuse scandal involving the abuse of young players at football clubs in the United Kingdom began in mid-November 2016. The revelations began when former professional footballers talked publicly about being abused by former coaches and scouts in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

The initial 2016 allegations centred on abuse of young players at Crewe Alexandra and Manchester City due to the clubs' associations with Barry Bennell who, on November 2016, was charged with new offences.

Allegations were also made against George Ormond, a former Newcastle United youth coach and scout, former Chelsea scout Eddie Heath, and former Southampton and Peterborough coach Bob Higgins.

Within a month of the initial reporting, the Football Association, the Scottish Football Association, several football clubs and over 20 UK police forces had established various inquiries and investigations and over 350 alleged victims had come forward.

By July 2018, 300 suspects were reported to have been identified by 849 alleged victims, with 2,807 incidents involving 340 different clubs. Fifteen men were charged with historical sexual abuse, 14 of whom were tried.

Thirteen, Bennell, Ormond, Higgins, William Toner, Michael Coleman, Jim McCafferty, Robert Smith, James Torbett, Gerald King, Frank Cairney, Norman Shaw, David Daniel Hayes, and Dylan Lamb, were convicted.

Michael Carson took his own life before his trial opened. Experts say at least 80 sports clubs may be affected.

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