Daily Express - 07.08.2019

24 Daily Express Wednesday, August 7, 2019

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WIN

Picture: SOLENT NEWS

By News Reporter

Sir Geoff Hurst, who sacked Heath

just days after taking over as manager

in 1979, declined to be formally

interviewed as part of the investiga-

tion. Last night Sir Geoff insisted

Heath had been sacked “for football-

ing reasons” and he was unaware of

the allegations. He said: “At no time

did I hear any untoward

allegations in respect of

Mr Heath until a few

years ago when

his situation was made

public.”

Apologising and con-

firming compensation

would be paid, Chelsea

said their own “exhaus-

tive investigation” would

“ensure that abhorrent

abuse like this can never

happen again”. Gradi

has not responded to

attempts to contact him.

●A review by the Barnardo’s charity

into racial abuse claims at the club

from 1982 until the late 1990s

concluded yesterday that “black

players were subjected to a daily

tirade of racial abuse”. But it now had

a “healthy culture” where youngsters

are encouraged to speak up and

are heard.

By David Pilditch

Chelsea chief

scout abused

boys for years

CHELSEA football club issued an

unreserved apology last night after a

damning report found young players

were targeted for years by “a

dangerous and prolific child abuser”.

Former chief scout Eddie Heath

was allowed to operate “unchal-

lenged” as he shattered the dreams of

promising footballers in a sickening

campaign of sexual abuse.

Evidence from 23 wit-

nesses detailed how the

“prolific and manipula-

tive sexual abuser”

groomed and abused

young boys aged 10 to 17

while senior figures at the

club apparently “turned a

blind eye”.

A bombshell report led

by barrister Charles

Geekie QC found former

assistant manager Dario

Gradi could have saved

victims after a parent

reported that his young son had been

abused but he failed to act.

But he insisted in his evidence to

the review that he informed club

management of the allegation.

Heath, who died aged 54 in 1983,

coached Chelsea’s youth teams from

1968 to 1979. He was never charged

with any offence or investigated.

It also emerged World Cup winner

Shamed Eddie Heath

snapped the 5ft female

even looked like she

was smiling and

played “peekaboo”

by covering her eyes

with her paws.

Visitor Mircea

Negulici took the shots

at Libearty Bear

Sanctuary near

Zarnesti, Romania. The

centre, the biggest

brown bear refuge in

Europe, is home to 75

of the animals.

Mircea, a 43-year-old

geologist who lives in

the capital Bucharest,

said: “She was happy

and appeared to be

smiling.

“She seemed very

comfortable because

she was relaxing with

other bears.

“After she stuck her

tongue out another

bear came over and

they played together.”

There are around

200,000 brown bears

left in the world and

they are not considered

endangered.

What bear-faced cheek...playful

animal poses for pawfect picture

A CHEEKY brown bear

makes it clear what she

thinks of having her

picture taken – by

poking her tongue out

at the photographer.

The playful animal, a

resident of a rescue

sanctuary, struck the

pose while leaning

casually against a tree.

As she was being

Playful

female

seems to

be pulling

a face

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