Chelsea Taken to High Court by Victims of Former Coach's Racist Abuse

Chelsea have been taken taken to the High Court by a group of former players who were victims of racist abuse by former club coach Gwyn Williams during the 1980s and 1990s.

Williams was found guilty of subjecting youth team players as young as 12 to daily racist abuse, prompting Chelsea to issue a public apology and offer support to the victims.

Behind the scenes, The Athletic note that Chelsea were summoned to court by four of the former players who claim that Williams' behaviour has left them with long-term psychological damage, including depression, anger and relationship issues.

One of the accusers, who has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after the abuse, claimed being at the club was a 'feral environment' in which black players were treated 'like a race of f*****g dogs'.

One other has revealed that he cannot stomach watching Chelsea on TV and he intentionally avoids visiting the Stamford Bridge area because of terrifying flashbacks of the incidents, which are said to have included name-calling, derogatory comments and splitting white players and black players into separate teams.

The case, which is set to be held in March 2022, is being handled by Chelsea's insurers' lawyers - rather than the club themselves - therefore they believe the matter is out of their hands.

At least ten former players are also believed to be preparing cases against Williams' behaviour, while those acting on behalf of Chelsea have questioned why proceedings have been brought against the club, rather than Williams himself.

Alongside preparing for this case, Chelsea have also been paying damages to the victims of former scout Eddie Heath, who was found to have used his position to groom young boys during the 1970s.

All of Heath's victims are understood to have received a five-figure sum and a personal apology from chairman Bruce Buck.

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Source : 90min