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NSPCC: football clubs not taking child protection seriously enough NSPCC: football clubs not taking child protection seriously enough
(about 11 hours later)
The FA should take urgent action to ensure Sunderland AFC’s handling of the Adam Johnson case is not symptomatic of a “cultural problem within football”, the NSPCC has said.The FA should take urgent action to ensure Sunderland AFC’s handling of the Adam Johnson case is not symptomatic of a “cultural problem within football”, the NSPCC has said.
In a letter to the FA chairman, Greg Dyke, the NSPCC chief executive, Peter Saunders, raised concerns that Premier League clubs may not be taking child protection issues seriously enough. In a letter to the FA chairman, Greg Dyke, the NSPCC chief executive, Peter Wanless, raised concerns that Premier League clubs may not be taking child protection issues seriously enough.
“The Adam Johnson case has pulled into sharp focus the way child protection and safeguarding is considered by some football clubs,” Saunders writes. “This is even more worrying when you consider the importance football plays in the lives of many young people and the responsibilities players have as role models.” “The Adam Johnson case has pulled into sharp focus the way child protection and safeguarding is considered by some football clubs,” Wanless writes. “This is even more worrying when you consider the importance football plays in the lives of many young people and the responsibilities players have as role models.”
It comes as Johnson, 28, is due to be jailed on Thursday for three child sex offences. The former England and Sunderland midfielder is facing between five and 10 years in prison after being found guilty at Bradford crown court of one count of sexual activity with a child on 2 March. He admitted kissing and grooming the girl and was cleared of a further child sex offence.It comes as Johnson, 28, is due to be jailed on Thursday for three child sex offences. The former England and Sunderland midfielder is facing between five and 10 years in prison after being found guilty at Bradford crown court of one count of sexual activity with a child on 2 March. He admitted kissing and grooming the girl and was cleared of a further child sex offence.
The NSPCC letter follows the resignation of Sunderland’s chief executive, Margaret Byrne, after she admitted making a “serious error of judgment” in allowing Johnson to continue playing despite having privately admitted he had kissed and groomed an underage schoolgirl.The NSPCC letter follows the resignation of Sunderland’s chief executive, Margaret Byrne, after she admitted making a “serious error of judgment” in allowing Johnson to continue playing despite having privately admitted he had kissed and groomed an underage schoolgirl.
Saunders described Johnson’s behaviour as “inexcusable” and said the decision to let him continue playing “highlighted a perverse sense of priorities” at the top of the club. He said the FA should ensure that child protection was “drilled into the culture of every club in the country”. Wanless described Johnson’s behaviour as “inexcusable” and said the decision to let him continue playing “highlighted a perverse sense of priorities” at the top of the club. He said the FA should ensure that child protection was “drilled into the culture of every club in the country”.
In the letter, Saunders wrote: “However, the NSPCC’s concern lies not in the behaviour of a single individual – although that is itself horrifying – but in the approach taken by Sunderland Football Club when confronted with a serious child protection issue. In the letter, Wanless wrote: “However, the NSPCC’s concern lies not in the behaviour of a single individual – although that is itself horrifying – but in the approach taken by Sunderland Football Club when confronted with a serious child protection issue.
“We are worried this could be a cultural problem within football as a whole and find it concerning clubs may not see incidents such as these as a child protection issue.“We are worried this could be a cultural problem within football as a whole and find it concerning clubs may not see incidents such as these as a child protection issue.
“This is not only about one rogue player that behaved badly, but a club that seemingly did not have child protection priorities embedded into their culture. It was not equipped to handle these allegations and seemingly did not deal with them appropriately, or indeed seriously. Furthermore, it is concerning if this is being forgotten by a club at the top level of football.”“This is not only about one rogue player that behaved badly, but a club that seemingly did not have child protection priorities embedded into their culture. It was not equipped to handle these allegations and seemingly did not deal with them appropriately, or indeed seriously. Furthermore, it is concerning if this is being forgotten by a club at the top level of football.”
The letter invites the FA to work closely with the NSPCC “to hammer home the message that this kind of behaviour should not be tolerated at any level and certainly not brushed under the carpet”.The letter invites the FA to work closely with the NSPCC “to hammer home the message that this kind of behaviour should not be tolerated at any level and certainly not brushed under the carpet”.
Saunders’ intervention comes as Faye Johnson, the footballer’s sister, pledged to launch a campaign website to support his appeal against his conviction. In a message to Johnson’s nearly 5,000 supporters on Facebook, she said that “all defence evidence” would be published on the site, “which will be live soon”. Wanless’ intervention comes as Faye Johnson, the footballer’s sister, pledged to launch a campaign website to support his appeal against his conviction. In a message to Johnson’s nearly 5,000 supporters on Facebook, she said that “all defence evidence” would be published on the site, “which will be live soon”.
The judge, Jonathan Rose, is expected to address concerns that the victim, now 16, has been identified and harassed by the footballer’s supporters on Facebook. Durham police issued a harassment warning to Steven Knox, the ex-partner of Faye Johnson, after he posted pictures of the victim and claimed that she “bragged and lied”.The judge, Jonathan Rose, is expected to address concerns that the victim, now 16, has been identified and harassed by the footballer’s supporters on Facebook. Durham police issued a harassment warning to Steven Knox, the ex-partner of Faye Johnson, after he posted pictures of the victim and claimed that she “bragged and lied”.
An FA spokesman said: “We welcome this letter. The FA and the NSPCC have a longstanding relationship through the Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU). We championed their recognition by [European football’s governing body] Uefa, which resulted in them receiving €1m to continue their important work.”An FA spokesman said: “We welcome this letter. The FA and the NSPCC have a longstanding relationship through the Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU). We championed their recognition by [European football’s governing body] Uefa, which resulted in them receiving €1m to continue their important work.”