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| Fresh football abuse claims investigated | Fresh football abuse claims investigated |
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| West Midlands Police has become the 18th police force to say it is investigating allegations of child abuse in football. | West Midlands Police has become the 18th police force to say it is investigating allegations of child abuse in football. |
| It said it was speaking to complainants about "four historical allegations". | It said it was speaking to complainants about "four historical allegations". |
| Police chiefs say hundreds of people have reported child sexual abuse in UK football after several former players made abuse allegations against coaches. | Police chiefs say hundreds of people have reported child sexual abuse in UK football after several former players made abuse allegations against coaches. |
| Earlier, a former Chelsea footballer claimed the club paid him £50,000 to keep quiet about abuse allegations. | Earlier, a former Chelsea footballer claimed the club paid him £50,000 to keep quiet about abuse allegations. |
| Gary Johnson, who was a member of Chelsea's first team from 1978 to 1981, told the Mirror he had been abused as a youth player in the 1970s by Eddie Heath, who is now dead. | Gary Johnson, who was a member of Chelsea's first team from 1978 to 1981, told the Mirror he had been abused as a youth player in the 1970s by Eddie Heath, who is now dead. |
| According to the Mirror, in 2015 Mr Johnson, 57, signed a confidentiality agreement and accepted £50,000 from the club, but they did not accept blame. | According to the Mirror, in 2015 Mr Johnson, 57, signed a confidentiality agreement and accepted £50,000 from the club, but they did not accept blame. |
| Chelsea said they had appointed a law firm to investigate a former employee. | Chelsea said they had appointed a law firm to investigate a former employee. |
| Mr Johnson joined the club as an 11-year-old in 1970 and said he had been groomed from the age of 13 by Heath. | |
| He said once the abuse had begun, Heath would attack him at "every opportunity", adding: "He would get me naked in bed, try more adventurous things." | |
| He said: "During the course of this three to four years, he got me to perform in threesomes with other boys, so I know there are other victims out there - it is now up to them if they come forward." | |
| Mr Johnson said he had kept the abuse a secret for decades, until the Jimmy Savile scandal had encouraged him to speak out. | |
| He told the Mirror that in 2014 he was advised by police - who have not commented on the claims - to "go back to Chelsea". | |
| The BBC understands that the confidentiality clause was lifted on Wednesday. | |
| Mirror editor Lloyd Embley told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Chelsea had been right to lift the confidentiality clause, but there were still questions as to why the money had been paid. | |
| On Thursday the NSPCC said more than 860 people had called its dedicated football sex abuse hotline, set up a week ago. | |
| Within the first three days of it launching, the charity made more than 60 referrals to a range of agencies across the UK. | Within the first three days of it launching, the charity made more than 60 referrals to a range of agencies across the UK. |
| Announcing its investigation, West Midlands Police said it took all reports of sexual abuse "extremely seriously" and urged anyone who may be a victim or witness to abuse to call on 101. | Announcing its investigation, West Midlands Police said it took all reports of sexual abuse "extremely seriously" and urged anyone who may be a victim or witness to abuse to call on 101. |