Manchester City have launched a redress scheme for survivors of historic child sex abuse, the Premier League club have announced.
City say they commissioned a QC-led review in November 2016 into whether the club was used by former youth coach Barry Bennell and “any other individual to facilitate alleged sexual abuse of children from 1964 to the present day”.
That review, which is ongoing, led to the “uncovering of serious allegations of child sex abuse in respect of another individual, John Broome.”
Bennell, who was a youth team coach with City and Crewe, was last year convicted of 52 offences committed against 12 boys he coached between 1979 and 1991.
Broome, who is now dead, was involved in City’s youth set-up in the 1960s.
City say the compensation scheme applies to the victims of Bennell and Broome.
City added in a statement: “The club’s review remains ongoing and Manchester City FC continues to be restricted as to what it can make public at present for legal reasons.
“The club reiterates, however, its heartfelt sympathy to all victims for the unimaginably traumatic experiences that they endured.
“All victims were entitled to expect full protection from the kind of harm they suffered as a result of their sexual abuse as children.”
Press Association Sport understands that as well as involving financial compensation the scheme will see victims receive a face-to-face apology from a senior club official.
It is understood the scheme will enable victims to apply for compensation for general damages, impact on career, therapy fees and some legal costs and that some cases could be processed as quickly as within six weeks.
Settlements will have no confidentiality clause and will be kept open for those who prefer to consider pursuing a civil claim.
Legal firm Pinsent Masons is running the scheme and QC Frances Oldham will act as an independent adjudicator.
