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FA chairman: Football asleep to issue of child sex abuse in 1990s

FA chairman Greg Clarke said football - and society as a whole - had a "total unawareness" of safeguarding children in the 1990s.

Speaking as police forces around the country investigate historical allegations from more than 20 former players said the sport and other institutions were "sleepwalking" rather than dealing with the problem.

Eight police forces are now looking into allegations of historical abuse in football.

There have been 250 reports made to police and more than 50 calls were made to an NSPCC hotline set up for sexual abuse victims in football in the initial hours of opening.

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Lawyer says child sex abuse far from limited to football

A lawyer specialising in child abuse cases has told ITV News that all sports need to be looked at in the wake of the football abuse scandal.

Elizabeth Duncan of Slee Blackwell Solicitors said she was looking after a dozen cases of abuse in sport, with the firm representing clients in football, gymnastics and swimming.

Ms Duncan said the role of coaching in youth sports is "ripe for abuse".

"That relationship between a coach and a young athlete is one of imbalance, it's one of power and it's one of vulnerability," she said.

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