{"id":271735,"date":"2016-11-25T16:18:37","date_gmt":"2016-11-25T16:18:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=271735"},"modified":"2016-11-25T16:18:37","modified_gmt":"2016-11-25T16:18:37","slug":"football-sex-abuse-claims-more-former-players-speak-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2016\/11\/football-sex-abuse-claims-more-former-players-speak-out\/","title":{"rendered":"Football sex abuse claims: More former players speak out"},"content":{"rendered":"
Four ex-footballers have appeared together in an emotional interview to tell of their torment after being abused as children by a coach.<\/p>\n
Andy Woodward, who was the first to go public last week, wept as Steve Walters, Chris Unsworth and Jason Dunford spoke of being abused by ex-Crewe Alexandra coach Barry Bennell.<\/p>\n
Mr Unsworth said he “never told a soul” that he was raped up to 100 times.<\/p>\n
Three police forces are investigating claims against more than one person.<\/p>\n
Barry Bennell, 62, has served three jail sentences for child sex offences.<\/p>\n
Since Mr Woodward’s story emerged, several ex-players have made allegations about being sexually abused by coaches as children – a number of them by Bennell, who is currently living in Milton Keynes.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A dedicated NSPCC hotline – 0800 023 2642<\/strong> – was set up after the abuse claims came to light and has received more than 100 calls.<\/p>\n Cheshire Police said it had received a “growing number of disclosures” which included referrals from the children’s charity and allegations have been made “against more than one individual”. Hampshire and Northumbria police forces have also opened investigations.<\/p>\n