sport news The FA are urged to overhaul safeguarding regulations and provide victims of ... trends now
View
comments
The FA are facing calls from players to overhaul their safeguarding regulations to give victims of abuse more support following Sportsmail’s revelations about an Aston Villa coach accused of asking female youngsters for naked photographs.
Villa Academy coach Jack Peel resigned in September 2021 and was subsequently banned by the FA after club and FA investigations concluded he was guilty of sending inappropriate text messages to players at the club.
A number of Peel’s alleged victims were never contacted or informed about his suspension however, which has led the PFA to demand changes to the FA’s safeguarding policies.
The players’ union have previously expressed unhappiness about not being told about either investigation and the lack of support offered to female players following Sportsmail’s reports last month. Talks over the matter are understood to be on-going.
The PFA fear that failing to provide information to complainants could erode faith in the system and prevent other victims of abuse from coming forward. One consequence of the FA’s policy of strict confidentiality is that victims are often not offered support.