[ 2016-11-25 ]

Wayne Rooney urges football sexual abuse victims to speak out
England captain Wayne Rooney has urged players who
have been sexually abused to call a new helpline
so they no longer “suffer in silence”.

The confidential, 24-hour counselling service was
launched by the NSPCC and the FA after four
retired players made their names public and
claimed they suffered abuse as young footballers.

Andy Woodward, Steve Walters and David White said
they were victims of former youth coach and scout
Barry Bennell, while Paul Stewart claimed he was
abused by another youth coach.

Meanwhile, Northumbria Police is investigating a
claim that a former Newcastle United player was
abused while in the club’s youth training
scheme.

Praising those who have spoken out, Rooney said:
“It’s awful that some of my colleagues have
suffered this way while playing the sport that I
and they love.

England captain Wayne Rooney faces the press
Image Caption: Rooney says Andy Woodward was
‘really brave to come forward’
“Andy (Woodward) has been really brave to come
forward and I would encourage anyone who has or is
suffering from abuse to call the NSPCC’s new
football helpline.

“It’s important that people know that it’s
okay to speak out, there is help available and
that they don’t need to suffer in silence.”

NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless said he hoped
Rooney’s words would “give courage to those
who may be afraid of coming forward”.

He said: “We know that men are less likely to
speak up about abuse and from the response to our
hotline so far it’s clear that this could be the
tip of the iceberg.”

Former footballer David White

In the first two hours of its operation the NSPCC
helpline received more than 50 calls.

Former Crewe Alexandra, Bury and Sheffield United
player Andy Woodward told Sky News that there are
high-profile sports professionals who were abused
as children that have yet to seek help.


His initial interview with The Guardian encouraged
more than 10 others to tell the Professional
Footballers’ Association that they too were
abused.

Mr Woodward said: “I know that there are more
out there, and there is more high-profile people
that are sat there thinking ‘Can I or
can’t?’

“You don’t have to be named, you don’t have
to put yourself on the front of a newspaper, but
you do need to get closure.

Former football coach Barry Bennell
Image Caption: Former football coach Barry
Bennell
“But I do know they are out there. I encourage
people to pick up the phone and ring and say, ‘I
was a victim’.”

Manchester City has launched its own investigation
into Barry Bennell, who worked at the club during
the 1980s.

In 1998, Bennell received a nine-year sentence
after admitting 23 charges of sexual offences,
including buggery, against six boys aged nine to
15.

He had been arrested when he was deported
following a four-year prison sentence in Florida
for raping and indecently assaulting a 13-year-old
British boy on a football tour.

Bennell was convicted for a third time for sexual
abuse in 2015 and received a two-year sentence.

He is reported to have been released on licence.

Source - skynews

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