Chelsea to pay no compensation to victims of sexual abuse

Chelsea will not be offering a financial compensation scheme for survivors of historical sexual abuse at the club, i can reveal.

As reported by i six weeks ago, survivors who contributed to Charles Geekie QC’s review of non-recent child sexual abuse at Chelsea feared that the club would not follow Manchester City’s lead and provide set financial packages.

They have now been sent letters, seen by i, explaining that the report – which took in witness testimony from more than 100 people, of which more than 20 are survivors – is complete and has been handed to police and relevant authorities. While support and access to an independent clinical psychologist will be provided, there will be no straightforward compensation scheme, although a Chelsea spokesman told i on Wednesday night that if survivors believe they are due money as recompense for the damage caused to their lives they can make a claim in writing to Chelsea, whose insurers are dealing with the process.

Three year investigation

Geekie and his team started their investigation in November 2016 and have been looking into sexual abuse by Eddie Heath – and others – during the late 1960s and 1970s. Heath, the club’s former chief scout who died in the 1980s, first met some of the survivors when they were only 10 years old. Geekie’s review includes events which took place from 1969 to 1978.

Manchester City announced in March that compensation totalling millions of pounds would be paid to victims of historical child sex abuse at their club as part of a financial compensation scheme. That includes six-figure sums to survivors of the most serious crimes. They also said those affected by it would be offered personal apologies by the club.

A Chelsea spokesman told i: “Since the disclosures of the appalling non-recent child sexual abuse came to light, the club has sought to provide the best possible support to the survivors. We are working with charities as well as statutory agencies, the FA and the PFA, so that survivors can get the holistic support they need.

“Survivors are also able to claim compensation by writing to the club. All claims for compensation are being managed by the club’s insurer.”