Premier League clubs ‘are still playing two footballers while knowing they are under police investigation for sexual or domestic violence’

Premier League clubs are under the spotlight for playing footballers and keeping a senior figure in his role after alleged victims of sexual or domestic violence have claimed that the FA and the Premier League are prioritising their interests over the safety of women.

A new report has found that seven teams in the English top flight have had players or bosses investigated by the police for sexual offences over the past three years, but a number of sides have continued to play the stars, and alleged victims have said that responses after reporting accusations to either governing body have been met with delays, inaction, or a lack of transparency over protocol.

Speaking to the BBC, alleged victims shared that in some cases, a lack of action from the governing bodies, such as suspending the player whilst an investigation is carried out, had led to other women being at risk of sexual assault, or in one instance, led to a victim attempting to take her own life.

The women – including five that shared allegations of rape and controlling behaviour about one footballer, dubbed Player X – spoke of the impact of continued publicity and promotion by football clubs suggesting that there is no truth to previous allegations.

‘If they had decided to take the first allegation (made against Player X) seriously,’ one alleged victim shared. ‘If they had suspended him, I never would have been in that situation that I was in that day.

The FA’s response to alleged victims has been questioned due to lack of guidelines for players

‘Their decision caused me to suffer.’

A second alleged victim added: ‘Him playing was the absolute thing that made me think they were fake and not true. It sent the message of “we don’t believe them and we support him”.

‘What happened to me could have been prevented.’

Another woman who reached out to Player X’s club, the FA, and the Premier League had to wait four months from a response from English football’s governing body, with the FA stating in response to her allegation that there was ‘no evidence to suggest that Player X poses risk or harm to children or adults at risk’.

Whilst both the Premier League and the FA have response actions for accusations of sexual assault or domestic violence in the context of the sport, or if the concerns relate to either children or vulnerable adults, there are no existing guidelines for players’ personal allegations.

The victim described being sent a PDF titled ‘Football’s Safeguarding Children policy’ – which was irrelevant to her case as an almost deliberate lack of transparency.

‘They were hiding behind their lack of policies whilst knowing that the regulations they have set up were meant to protect profits, not victims’

When contacted for comment by the BBC, the FA said that they dealt with her concerns appropriately.

Another victim saw her levelling of allegations to the Premier League go two months without response, after a Premier League boss had been questioned by the police and released under investigation for an allegation of historic sexual abuse perpetrated when she was 15 years old.

Whilst her concern that the boss still played an active role at his club was sent to their safeguarding team, the FA also told the victim that she would not be privy to whether action would be taken as the governing body does ‘not ordinarily comment publicly about individual safeguarding cases’.

The victim shared that she was ‘unable to relax knowing if any precautions have been taken.

‘As far as I know, they are still putting children at risk.’

The club did not respond to the BBC’s request for comment, and the victim has since reached out to a number of organisations, including the NSPCC, the relevant police commissioner, and government ministers.

Without guidelines in place, the Premier League has seen an array of different responses to sexual assault or domestic violence allegations.

Benjamin Mendy, who was found not guilty of sexual offences, has now brought a claim against Manchester City over his unpaid wages

Mason Greenwood, who had charges against him dropped by CPS, is currently featuring for LaLiga side Getafe, on loan from Man United

Former Manchester City player Benjamin Mendy has launched a multi-million pound claim against his former club after he was suspended without pay after he was charged with a string of sexual offences which the defender denied – and was later found not guilty of at Chester Crown Court earlier this year.

Manchester United loanee Mason Greenwood was suspended with pay after being charged for attempted rape and domestic violence, but when charges were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Services following the ‘withdrawal of key witnesses’, the club conducted its own internal investigation.

Amid concerns from fans over a potential Old Trafford return for the forward following the investigation’s conclusion, a statement was release stressing the ‘mutual agreement’ that Greenwood should continue his career elsewhere.

The player is currently featuring for LaLiga side Getafe on loan, with Man United heavily subsidising the his £75,000-a-week wages.

Alleged victims also shared their fears over the intensity of potential fan backlash and how that had the potential to stop those with allegations from coming forward, with one sharing that she had been in ‘a constant state of fear’ and subject to graphic and threatening abuse after reporting Player X to the police.

Another victim, who alleges she was raped by a different Premier League player shared: ‘If I said anything, I’d be going against a whole team – millions of people around the world.’

Chairwoman of the Culture, Media, and Sport Committee Dame Caroline Dinenage called the findings in the report ‘a huge concern’ and reiterated the need for violence against women to come under the jurisdiction of the new independent football regulator.

Dame Caroline Dinenage has called for the guidelines to be looked under the new independent football regulator

‘There are generations of young people that look up to (Premier League footballers),’ she said. ‘As part of the new regulator’s role setting licensing conditions, we want to see it have the powers to take clubs to task for their approach and lack of progress when it comes to improving every aspect of equality, diversity and inclusion.’

King Charles used his first state opening of Parliament to announce that ‘legislation will be brought forward to safeguard the future of football clubs for the benefit of communities and fans’.

The regulator has been in the pipeline since it formed one of the key recommendations of Tracey Crouch MP’s fan-led review in November 2021, with the Government then including it on their white paper in February this year.

Its inclusion in Tuesday’s historic King Speech’s means Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will now try to bring it into legislation before next year’s election, although it is unlikely to be fully operational until the start of the 2025-26 season.