England's Football Association Starts Inquiry Into Child Sex Abuse

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — England's Football Association (FA) launched the process to investigate the cases of child sex abuse with participation of football players, the FA said in a statement.

Earlier this month, a number of allegations emerged about sex offenses involving children in the Crewe Alexandra football club. Media reported citing Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor that the problem could be nationwide and could have involved about 20 people from a number of other clubs, including the Premier League.

"The FA has instructed independent leading counsel Kate Gallafent QC to assist it with a review into the abuse cases which have recently come to light. The FA had already initiated an internal review which Ms Gallafent will now oversee, while it continues to also prioritise victim support and providing full assistance to on-going police inquiries," the statement said.

The investigation is expected to reveal the facts that could show the level of the association's awareness of the alleged sex abuse cases, according to the statement.

The FA is working with law enforcers in order to support the police investigation, the statement added.