Football clubs warned by Clive Sheldon QC over abuse investigations

The QC leading the Football Association's independent inquiry into child sex abuse has warned up to a dozen clubs they must hold their own investigations into abuse claims or he will do it.

Clive Sheldon QC was appointed by the national governing body in December 2016 and these clubs, along with the FA itself, are the main focus of his review.

He has also asked them to provide him with a 'structured report' into their investigations into how they handled allegations of abuse and safeguarding issues dating back to the 1970s.

Around a dozen clubs are the main focus of abuse allegations in football. However, not all clubs have so far provided Sheldon with all the answers he requires.

The barrister has written to every professional football club, every FA affiliated club and all County FA's requesting information that will help him complete a thorough Review into Child Abuse claims in football between the early 1970s and late 1990s.

It is understood that no club is being obstructive, but if the QC and his team of lawyers do not get the information they require by the middle of June, Sheldon may have to step in and carry out his own investigation though he has not taken that step so far.

It has also emerged that the sheer scale of the work required in the Review means that Sheldon will not hand over his report to the FA until late September this year.

Sheldon had hoped to complete the work by Easter. It is up to the FA whether or not it decides to publish the findings of the Review, although in past communications FA chairman Greg Clarke said it would make public the findings.

Since Sheldon was appointed to conduct the Review, his team have spent a vast amount of time searching through an anonymous London warehouse where the FA have stored approximately 9,000 boxes of archived paperwork.

Nearly a third of those boxes have been opened by the team with 963 boxes containing 6,000 files of documents deemed to be of interest. Half a million pages of material have so far been uploaded to a digital platform with 353 documents said to be highly relevant.

Sheldon's final report will name clubs and individuals if it's determined that they did not take the correct steps when informed of abuse allegations.

The QC, under the terms of his remit, can recommend possible sanctions to the FA.

Aside from sifting through thousands of documents, Sheldon has met with 29 survivors of abuse and expects to meet with several more before he concludes his Review.