Barry Bennell in handcuffs after arrest in US as the FA launches probe into abuse scandal
PAEDOPHILE football coach Barry Bennell is pictured in handcuffs as more than 20 players make sex abuse claims against junior coaches.
The former Crewe Alexandra coach appeared before a judge in Florida in a prison uniform in the nineties when he was arrested during a Stone Dominoes FC tour of the United States.
Bennell, now 62, was jailed for four years in Florida after pleading guilty to six counts of sexual battery and lewd and lascivious behaviour.
He was also caged for nine years in the UK after he was convicted of 23 charges of sexual offences against six boys, aged nine to 15, between 1978 and 1992, and was later jailed for two years in May 2015 for abusing a boy in Macclesfield in 1980.
The scandal has deepened now after ex-players came forward to describe being raped and abused by the serial paedo.
The FA has set up an internal inquiry into allegations of sex abuse in football.
Speaking on Sky News, PFA Chief Executive Gordon Taylor said over 20 players have come forward with child sex abuse allegations.
The first was Andy Woodward, who waived his right to anonymity to speak about his ordeal at the hands of Barry Bennell, who worked as a coach at Crewe Alexandra.
Anthony Hughes, another victim, also revealed Bennell would invite up to 12 young boys to his house at a time, where he would force them to watch hardcore porn.
An NSPCC hotline has now received over 100 calls related to such abuse.
A "significant" number of other alleged victims of abuse are likely to come forward and other sporting governing bodies may report similar problems, Chief Constable Simon Bailey, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) lead for child protection, has warned.
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Meanwhile, Gordon Taylor has also alleged Leeds United and Blackpool join Crewe Alexandra, Manchester City, Newcastle United and Stoke on the list of clubs connected to the claims, according to .
The FA's review will assess information the FA had at the times of the abuse, which football clubs were aware and whether sufficient action was taken.
The FA said a "wide-ranging inquiry may be required in time" but added it is supporting police with their investigations and "must ensure we do not do anything to interfere with or jeopardise the criminal process".
Crewe Alexandra, where Bennell worked as a junior coach, has also launched its own probe into the allegations.
Meanwhile, it was revealed today that one Premier League club made a secret payment to a former player to prevent him going public with allegations that he was raped by a youth coach in the 1970s.
The deal was made in the last two years after the player complained to the club and the Metropolitan Police following revelations about paedophile BBC presenter Jimmy Savile, the reported.
It reportedly prevents the victim, his family or his legal team from acknowledging the case's existence - as the victim was about to speak out about his ordeal.
In a statement, the FA said: "We are working closely with the police to support their lead investigations and must ensure we do not do anything to interfere with or jeopardise the criminal process."
Independent leading counsel Kate Gallafent QC will assist the FA with its review.
Meanwhile, the Child Protection in Sport Unit will also carry out an independent audit.
HOW CHILD SEX ABUSE SCANDAL UNFOLDED
November 16 - Former Sheffield United player Andy Woodward becomes the first to speak out about his experience of abuse. The ex-footballer tells claims he was abused by Bennell, a former Crewe Alexandra coach, while he was a youth player at the club.
November 22 - Ex-Crewe player Steve Walters alleges that he was also abused by Bennell. In an interview with The Guardian, Mr Walters claims he was groomed and repeatedly abused by the convicted paedophile after joining Crewe's youth team when he was 12.
November 23 - Former England international Paul Stewart speaks out about being abused by a football coach when he was a child. He says he was repeatedly sexually assaulted by an unnamed man, who threatened to kill his family if he told them.
Former England and Manchester City forward David White becomes the fourth retired footballer in a week to say he was abused at the start of his career. He alleges Bennell abused him while he was attached to Whitehill FC, a junior team based in Manchester.
November 24 - An unnamed former Newcastle United player reportedly contacted police with allegations against coach George Ormond. Ormond, who was based in the north-east, was jailed for six years in 2002 for carrying out numerous assaults spanning 24 years.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) launches a dedicated hotline for sexual abuse victims within the football community.
It receives 50 calls within the first two hours.
Manchester City says it is investigating any past links Bennell had with the club.
November 25 - Manchester City youth player Jason Dunford and Crewe youngster Chris Unsworth also make allegations against Bennell. The pair allege they were victims of the former coach in an interview on BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme.
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse said it would be "watching events closely", as four police forces confirm they are investigating allegations.
November 26 - A former Crewe Alexandra board member, Hamilton Smith, says the club was told Bennell had sexually abused one of its junior footballers.
Crewe announces it will conduct an independent review into the way the club dealt with historical child abuse allegations.
November 27 - The Football Association says it has appointed Kate Gallafent QC to assist with its internal review into historical child sex abuse allegations.
The NSPCC’s helpline for abused footballers is 0800 023 2642