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| Football abuse claims: Ex-QPR player speaks out | Football abuse claims: Ex-QPR player speaks out |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A former Queens Park Rangers footballer has said he was sexually assaulted by the club's ex-chief scout Chris Gieler. | A former Queens Park Rangers footballer has said he was sexually assaulted by the club's ex-chief scout Chris Gieler. |
| The man anonymously told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme that Mr Gieler touched him on his genitals in the 1980s, when he was aged 15. | The man anonymously told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme that Mr Gieler touched him on his genitals in the 1980s, when he was aged 15. |
| The west London club said it took allegations against Mr Gieler "very seriously". | The west London club said it took allegations against Mr Gieler "very seriously". |
| The club's ex-chief scout left the club in 2003 and died the following year. | The club's ex-chief scout left the club in 2003 and died the following year. |
| The ex-QPR player said that "everybody knew [Gieler] was a wrong'un, but nobody ever said anything". | The ex-QPR player said that "everybody knew [Gieler] was a wrong'un, but nobody ever said anything". |
| Child sex abuse claims: The story so far | Child sex abuse claims: The story so far |
| Football abuse claims: How loved ones reacted | Football abuse claims: How loved ones reacted |
| It comes as the mother of a former youth team player at Crewe Alexandra told Victoria Derbyshire she wrote an anonymous letter to Dario Gradi - the club's director of football and former manager - saying it was "inappropriate" that a member of staff "took lots of boys into his room overnight" during a weekend away in Blackpool. | It comes as the mother of a former youth team player at Crewe Alexandra told Victoria Derbyshire she wrote an anonymous letter to Dario Gradi - the club's director of football and former manager - saying it was "inappropriate" that a member of staff "took lots of boys into his room overnight" during a weekend away in Blackpool. |
| The mother, called Carole, said her son had told her there were not enough beds for the team. | The mother, called Carole, said her son had told her there were not enough beds for the team. |
| In the letter, which she said she wrote in 1989-90, she did not allege any abuse had taken place, but did ask Mr Gradi to investigate. | In the letter, which she said she wrote in 1989-90, she did not allege any abuse had taken place, but did ask Mr Gradi to investigate. |
| In a statement regarding these latest claims, Mr Gradi said: "Aside from denying any wrongdoing, it would be inappropriate and unfair on all parties to comment piecemeal through the media at this time in connection with historic[al] allegations. | In a statement regarding these latest claims, Mr Gradi said: "Aside from denying any wrongdoing, it would be inappropriate and unfair on all parties to comment piecemeal through the media at this time in connection with historic[al] allegations. |
| "Suffice to say, I will do everything within my power to assist all investigatory authorities into what is becoming a wide ranging and important enquiry into historic[al] sexual abuse." | "Suffice to say, I will do everything within my power to assist all investigatory authorities into what is becoming a wide ranging and important enquiry into historic[al] sexual abuse." |
| Mr Gradi has previously said he "knew nothing" about the alleged abuse of young footballers by anyone connected with the club until 1994, and that he then co-operated with the authorities. | Mr Gradi has previously said he "knew nothing" about the alleged abuse of young footballers by anyone connected with the club until 1994, and that he then co-operated with the authorities. |
| Crewe Alexandra has not yet responded to a request for comment. | Crewe Alexandra has not yet responded to a request for comment. |
| The FA - as part of its widened review into child sex abuse allegations - expects to interview Mr Gradi after a report of an incident in the Independent newspaper from his time at Chelsea. | |
| The paper alleges that in 1974 - when he was Chelsea's assistant manager - Mr Gradi visited the parents of a 15 year-old youth team player at the club to "smooth over" a complaint of sexual assault against Eddie Heath, the chief scout who has been identified as a repeat offender in the 1970s. | |
| No action is thought to have been taken against Heath, who is now dead, by Chelsea. Mr Gradi denies any wrongdoing. | |
| 'Slapped the hand' | 'Slapped the hand' |
| The former QPR youth team player, speaking anonymously to the Victoria Derbyshire programme, said Mr Gieler "made a play" for him in a one-off incident in the 1980s, after he had been taken off early due to injury. | The former QPR youth team player, speaking anonymously to the Victoria Derbyshire programme, said Mr Gieler "made a play" for him in a one-off incident in the 1980s, after he had been taken off early due to injury. |
| The man - who went on to play professionally at other clubs - added: "I had a sore groin - he came into the treatment room. I had an ice pack on my groin and he started touching that." | The man - who went on to play professionally at other clubs - added: "I had a sore groin - he came into the treatment room. I had an ice pack on my groin and he started touching that." |
| He said Mr Gieler put his hand directly on to his genitals, before he "slapped the hand out the way immediately" and swore at him to go away. | He said Mr Gieler put his hand directly on to his genitals, before he "slapped the hand out the way immediately" and swore at him to go away. |
| Mr Gieler was employed by QPR for about 30 years. In 1979, he became youth development manager, responsible for the entire youth programme. | Mr Gieler was employed by QPR for about 30 years. In 1979, he became youth development manager, responsible for the entire youth programme. |
| The man said he did not speak out about the abuse at the time. | The man said he did not speak out about the abuse at the time. |
| "We were 14, 15, 16," he said. "You're not going to come out - people would've said, 'You should've just knocked him out.'" | "We were 14, 15, 16," he said. "You're not going to come out - people would've said, 'You should've just knocked him out.'" |
| 'Presents and gifts' | 'Presents and gifts' |
| The former player describes Mr Gieler as "very touchy feely" and said he would place his hands on the boys' thighs. | The former player describes Mr Gieler as "very touchy feely" and said he would place his hands on the boys' thighs. |
| "After a youth team game he'd come in and start talking to you in the shower," he added. | "After a youth team game he'd come in and start talking to you in the shower," he added. |
| He said he was sure Mr Gieler "did much worse with some of the other boys" in comparison with his own experience. | He said he was sure Mr Gieler "did much worse with some of the other boys" in comparison with his own experience. |
| A second anonymous former youth team player, at the club in the early 1980s, told the Victoria Derbyshire programme Mr Gieler "used to give boys presents and gifts". | A second anonymous former youth team player, at the club in the early 1980s, told the Victoria Derbyshire programme Mr Gieler "used to give boys presents and gifts". |
| The player - who went on to play professionally for several clubs - said Mr Gieler "was picking boys up and taking them out for evenings". He said he personally did not suffer abuse. | The player - who went on to play professionally for several clubs - said Mr Gieler "was picking boys up and taking them out for evenings". He said he personally did not suffer abuse. |
| QPR 'co-operation' | QPR 'co-operation' |
| In a statement on Tuesday, QPR said it would "co-operate fully in any forthcoming investigation". | In a statement on Tuesday, QPR said it would "co-operate fully in any forthcoming investigation". |
| It added that the club "has robust recruitment procedures and safeguarding policies in place to ensure the protection and welfare of both children and vulnerable adults, and we employ a full-time designated safeguarding manager who works across all areas of the club." | It added that the club "has robust recruitment procedures and safeguarding policies in place to ensure the protection and welfare of both children and vulnerable adults, and we employ a full-time designated safeguarding manager who works across all areas of the club." |
| A total of 350 people have alleged they are victims and 55 amateur and professional football clubs are linked to allegations of abuse going back several decades. | A total of 350 people have alleged they are victims and 55 amateur and professional football clubs are linked to allegations of abuse going back several decades. |
| A dedicated sexual abuse helpline has been set up by the NSPCC, supported by the FA. | A dedicated sexual abuse helpline has been set up by the NSPCC, supported by the FA. |
| The BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme is broadcast on weekdays between 09:00 and 11:00 on BBC Two and the BBC News channel. | The BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme is broadcast on weekdays between 09:00 and 11:00 on BBC Two and the BBC News channel. |