High Court civil action alleging abuse against Premier League executive discontinued
A High Court civil action alleging sexual abuse against a prominent Premier League club executive has been discontinued. The woman bringing the claim alleged she was just 15 years old when the purported offences occurred during the 1990s, reports BritPanorama.
She had been pursuing aggravated damages against the well-known figure, accusing him of assault, battery, and intentionally causing injury. Despite the civil proceedings being dropped, an anonymity order secured by the defendant’s legal team in 2024 remains firmly in place.
The judge who granted the anonymity order stated: “The identity of the defendant as a party to these proceedings is confidential and shall not be published.” The alleged victim had also reported the matter to police, claiming a rape occurred at the man’s residence.
However, officers informed her that she had delayed too long in coming forward with her complaint. Legislation in force at the time required such matters to be reported within twelve months, preventing any potential criminal proceedings against the executive.
Following this, the woman turned to the civil courts in her pursuit of justice, seeking aggravated damages through the High Court action that has now been abandoned. The reasons behind the discontinuation of the civil case have not been disclosed, but the Football Association confirmed its safeguarding department had been informed of the allegations against the executive.
In a statement, the governing body asserted: “We have robust safeguarding measures in place and all referrals into us are handled in line with our policies and procedures.” The FA added that it investigates all concerns regarding individuals who may pose a risk to children and adults within the sport, implementing proportionate safeguarding measures where appropriate.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the complexities surrounding allegations of abuse and the challenges faced by survivors in seeking justice, particularly in the evolving climate of scrutiny regarding safeguarding in sports.
