FA boss Greg Clarke pledges support to victims of 'heinous' child sex abuse

FA chief Greg Clarke has vowed to support victims of historical child sex abuse in football, saying he found the allegations "upsetting and emotional".

The FA chairman held a meeting with former Crewer player Andy Woodward on Thursday to discuss what he called "heinous crimes".

Many of the allegations revolve around convicted child abuser and former coach Barry Bennell.

So far, Woodward is one of three ex-footballers to have named Bennell as having abused them while they were young, alongside Steve Walters and David White.

Former Tottenham and Liverpool star Paul Stewart has also come forward with sexual abuse claims against another coach.

Speaking afterwards, Clarke said: "I find it very emotional, and I find it very upsetting, to see a human being have gone through what he [Woodward] had gone through.

"I told him that we had two fundamental objectives. One was to make sure all the victims felt safe to report all the terrible crimes against them. And secondly to make sure that none of this was going on any more."

He said he did not believe the FA had "let down" young players - though he described reports that there had been "no response" from the organisation at the time Bennell was convicted in 1998 as "appalling".

He said as well as helping start a NSPCC helpline for victims of abuse, the FA had put some 8,500 safeguarding officers in the community and introduced criminal record checks in recent years.

Following the new revelations, he said he had written to 30,000 clubs around the country to raise awareness of the issue, and said the FA would be supporting police in their investigations.

He also moved to reassure parents concerned for the safety of their children.

He promised the FA would hold itself to account, and said he would meet any victims who came forward.