Chelsea one of three London Premier League clubs part of a police inquiry into allegations of sexual abuse
Metropolitan Police are investigating 106 separate allegations connected with individuals at 30 named clubs or teams in London
CHELSEA and three other London Prem clubs are now part of a police inquiry into allegations of sexual abuse against young footballers.
The Metropolitan Police announced they are investigating 106 separate allegations connected with individuals at 30 named clubs or teams in London — four of them from the top flight.
Chelsea paid off ex-striker Gary Johnson in 2015 for abuse he suffered at the hands of chief scout Eddie Heath, before apologising recently.
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But more claims are understood to have been made against Heath, who died in the 1980s, and had links with other capital clubs.
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That means three of London’s four other top-flight clubs — Arsenal, Spurs, West Ham and Crystal Palace — also feature in the investigation. The figure of 30 also includes two Championship clubs, three in Leagues One and Two, and 21 outside the top four tiers.
Meanwhile, Southampton are under more pressure to reveal how they dealt with complaints about youth coach Bob Higgins.
The League confirmed a warning letter it sent out in 1989, shortly after Higgins left, was NOT prompted by claims of abuse against him.
But Dave Merrington, then Saints youth-team boss, told SunSport he had reported claims by a young player against Higgins to manager Chris Nicholl, who passed them on to the board.
If the club had even suspected Higgins they should have reported those concerns to FA and League chiefs.