It's shocking some of you are actually questioning the victims here I expected that from other clubs fan not ours there was a clear period in this countries history where these things happen too often and was covered up. If this guy came to the club told them what happened and they said prove it no no no the right thing to do is investigate and either disprove his claims or confirm it and take measures to ensure youth kids are protected come forward and own it as this wasn't the current boards fault but take responsibility show we are a mature club.

Paedophiles have infiltrated the church,schools,the scouts,show business etc, therefore it should come as no surprise that they got their way into football.All my sympathies are with the victims.There certainly were a lot of cover ups in the 70/80/90s and that is disgusting.

38 minutes ago, Blueblur said:

We should be hauled over the coals for this and rightly so. 

You say "we", but I don't really fancy being associated with this as a fan. I support the football team, not the board of directors, lawyers and admin staff that do all the backroom stuff.

 

It's hard to believe Johnson wouldn't also have approached the FA at the time and it's this aspect I find most concerning The FA fining Clubs for failing to act correctly when the organisation itself MUST have heard repeated and substantial rumours for decades about the abuse that was going on. We're basically being judged by an Organisation that should be facing an independent inquiry itself.

2 minutes ago, Zeta Orionis said:

You say "we", but I don't really fancy being associated with this as a fan. I support the football team, not the board of directors, lawyers and admin staff that do all the backroom stuff.

Or one guy who supposedly abused a player, f**k all to do with us

3 minutes ago, fitz said:

 

It's hard to believe Johnson wouldn't also have approached the FA at the time and it's this aspect I find most concerning The FA fining Clubs for failing to act correctly when the organisation itself MUST have heard repeated and substantial rumours for decades about the abuse that was going on. We're basically being judged by an Organisation that should be facing an independent inquiry itself.

YES

2 hours ago, Zola said:

Over 350 now coming forward.. if genuine that's very, very sad,

A drop in the ocean compared to what is happening in Rotherham and other towns/cities. But the press won't give that story much coverage because it doesn't involve celebrities or football.

Quote

 

An independent inquiry into child sexual abuse in the town, led by Professor Alexis Jay, was established in 2013 for Rotherham Council.[3] The inquiry's initial report, published on 26 August 2014, condemned the failure of the authorities in Rotherham to act effectively against the abuse or even, in some cases, to acknowledge that it was taking place.[4][5][6] The report estimated that 1,400 children had been sexually abused in the town between 1997 and 2013, predominantly by gangs of British-Pakistani men.[7] Abuses described included abduction, rape, torture and sex trafficking of children.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotherham_child_sexual_exploitation_scandal

 

 

wow! Didnt know it was anything like that

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38179882

Quote

He (Johnson) went to a law firm who approached Chelsea for compensation.

Is it hush money when the victim asks for compensation? 

1 hour ago, benjsross said:

Best case scenario here is that Chelsea believed that as the police were informed and as they had settled the matter with the individual through compensation - which would have involved clear legal advice - they had done their due diligence. 

 

Cobblers mate. The club know the rules. The rules state you must contact the football authorities. It is obvious they didn't. Why didn't they? They didn't want the negative publicity, I'm assuming. Maybe the insurers didn't want more people coming out seeking damages. The insurers pay out in these cases, not the club. The club made the decision to restrict the person from speaking out. In other words, they covered it up. Say what you want about the FA, about the former player, about the media, but the club come out of this looking very bad, judging on what we've got so far. Very very bad indeed. Heads should roll over this, no mistake. This is going to do the club irreparable harm, not to mention the harm it did to the cause of sexual abuse victims, by trying to conceal this story.

3 hours ago, Zola said:

Over 350 now coming forward.. if genuine that's very, very sad, but I can't help but feel there's a fair number of opportunists coming out now just wanting cash. Easier for people to say they were abused when the person in question is dead. surely not every one of those people are only finding the strength to talk about it now.  

Hope the truth prevails, but it's going to drag on forever now. 

I was thinking the same too. 

So the PFA ignored him, the police ignored him whilst Chelsea were the only one to listen to him and paid him 50,000 in compensation and yet we're the bad guys. What exactly did they want us to do when the alleged abuser is dead and why are the police not being investigated for ignoring  his complaint?

Anyway, hoping for a thorough investigation and hopefully everything sorted. Hope this doesn't affect our on pitch performance. Ffs I knew things were too good right now.

Woah woah woah! Let's slow things down here. Now I'm not suggesting that it didn't happen but the guy that is being accused is dead, so he can't refute this.

The club paid money to somebody to avoid bad publicity and an extended investigation into an issue where almost no evidence is likely to exist.

It is entirely possible that the club felt like that while it couldn't be proven, that on balance the fact it *may* have happened was enough to justify compensation in lieu of possible natural justice. Non-disclosure clauses are standard in most settlements and the fact we waived it to allow him to come forward shows that we aren't trying to gag him at all.

In other words calling this hush money is dishonest and typical tabloid sh*t.

If something did happen then we should try to investigate but given the time that has passed it may not be possible. That he settled for £50k shows this, if there was more than an accusation the he could have sued the clubs for millions.

My point is that the justice system works innocent until proven guilty not the other way around as the Mirror or Daily Heil would have it. It needs to be calmed down and handled respectfully and investigated fairly, not as a witch hunt.

2 minutes ago, TheFunkeyGibbon said:

Woah woah woah! Let's slow things down here. Now I'm not suggesting that it didn't happen but the guy that is being accused is dead, so he can't refute this.

The club paid money to somebody to avoid bad publicity and an extended investigation into an issue where almost no evidence is likely to exist.

It is entirely possible that the club felt like that while it couldn't be proven, that on balance the fact it *may* have happened was enough to justify compensation in lieu of possible natural justice. Non-disclosure clauses are standard in most settlements and the fact we waived it to allow him to come forward shows that we aren't trying to gag him at all.

In other words calling this hush money is dishonest and typical tabloid sh*t.

If something did happen then we should try to investigate but given the time that has passed it may not be possible. That he settled for £50k shows this, if there was more than an accusation the he could have sued the clubs for millions.

My point is that the justice system works innocent until proven guilty not the other way around as the Mirror or Daily Heil would have it. It needs to be calmed down and handled respectfully and investigated fairly, not as a witch hunt.

 

The club should contact the football authorities, by my understanding of the rules, and on such a serious matter, you follow the rules.

 

If anybody knows the relevant rule or can find it can they post it please.

Surely we are not the only premier league club who has done this. If theres over 850 calls made solely about this, many clubs must be hiding a lot. 

Found this line in an article worrying.
 
'Sportsmail has learned that a number of clubs have used insurance policies and hush money to compensate victims — and stop them from speaking out about their ordeals.'
 
Supposedly this has happened at others clubs yet only ours is being dragged through the headlines at the moment.

That's what you get for trusting the Daily Heil. I wouldn't trust them as far as I could throw them.

13 minutes ago, TheFunkeyGibbon said:

 

 

That's what you get for trusting the Daily Heil. I wouldn't trust them as far as I could throw them.

 

 

Other publications are available.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/dec/01/football-clubs-insurance-covering-child-sex-abuse-claims

2 hours ago, Zeta Orionis said:

You say "we", but I don't really fancy being associated with this as a fan. I support the football team, not the board of directors, lawyers and admin staff that do all the backroom stuff.

I'm certainly the opposite to that.  I support the club.  Top down.

Edit:  In no way do I support the actions of the person involved in the crime here, just making that 100% if it wasn't presumed. 

Edited December 2, 20169 yr by Van Butsen

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/leyton-orient-squad-knew-eddie-heath-was-sexually-abusing-youth-players-before-move-to-chelsea-a3410851.html

Well, sh*t.

Surely we're not the only club involved in this. If the accusation that we paid off people two years ago is true then we ought to have the f**king book thrown at us, we really do.

 

We weren't protecting a living abuser though, the guy is dead.

What else should the club have done?

Damned if you do, damned if you don't. 

38 minutes ago, Zola said:

We weren't protecting a living abuser though, the guy is dead.

What else should the club have done?

Damned if you do, damned if you don't. 

It's not solely about the abuser. Many victims of abuse have gone through the years blaming themselves, wondering what they did wrong. The acknowledgement that they are a victim,  they did nothing wrong, that the only one to blame is their abuser, is often helpful in the healing process. Plus, in general, bringing out these things into the open, increases awareness and encourages other victims to come forward.

No winners in this one.

Club paid out to keep it hush not informing any authority (On the wishes of the abused)

Abused approached the club or rather his lawyer did looking for a settlement instead of reporting the crime to the police.

Now the club are in trouble and we only have ourselves to blame, always follow the correct and legal procedures for crime...especially this kind of crime.

 

2 minutes ago, Valerie said:

It's not solely about the abuser. Many victims of abuse have gone through the years blaming themselves, wondering what they did wrong. The acknowledgement that they are a victim,  they did nothing wrong, that the only one to blame is their abuser, is often helpful in the healing process. Plus, in general, bringing out these things into the open, increases awareness and encourages other victims to come forward.

Let's say we do not have the benefit of hindsight. 

A man comes forward and says that 40 years ago he was sexually abused by a man who is now dead. Chances are that probably happened, however there is also a chance that this man a) Knows that sexually abused victims are being paid and b) Chelsea are rich and c) the accused is (recently) deceased and so cannot prove it didn't happen. 

The police say there is no case. 

Do you a) tell him to f* off - where he then could drag the club through the mud in the press (where evidence is not needed and Chelsea are never going to sue for libel). Or b) listen to his complaints, ask if he has any evidence and then pay him a compensation. 

When you pay him compensation, do you a) Let him tell every tom dick and harry that he got £50k without any evidence or do you b) have a very common confidentiality clause in there. 

Maybe Chelsea were "supposed" to tell the FA. Maybe...that isnt very clear, I dont know where that regulation would be at all and why they need to be involved in this. 

And this isn't just the actions taken by Chelsea. It is obvious that many other clubs did the same thing. It isn't great, I would like things to have happened in a different way, but lets not distract from who the real villains are. 

 

And please...the FA knew more than any individual club about how deep this all went and the "whiter than white" image they are trying to present from their organisation is ridiculous. 

5 minutes ago, Chelsbear said:

instead of reporting the crime to the police.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/nov/30/police-opted-against-action-over-chelsea-ex-players-sex-abuse-claim?CMP=share_btn_tw

It was reported to the police, who opted against action.

5 hours ago, Brutos said:

It's shocking some of you are actually questioning the victims here I expected that from other clubs fan not ours there was a clear period in this countries history where these things happen too often and was covered up. If this guy came to the club told them what happened and they said prove it no no no the right thing to do is investigate and either disprove his claims or confirm it and take measures to ensure youth kids are protected come forward and own it as this wasn't the current boards fault but take responsibility show we are a mature club.

Totally agree. I am furious with the catholic church for the total failure to protect their flock, and protect the abusers instead to the point of enabling them. If it turns out the club (old board or not) I love behaved in the same reprehensible way as a religious institution I loathe, I will  be equally furious. No room for hypocrisy. The only proper thing the club can do is fully investigate and bring every finding, whatever it is, into the open. And they should do whatever they can to protect the players, young, old, male, female,  now and in the future.