Football: Scottish police probe 109 reports of child sex abuse

Scottish police are investigating more than 100 reports of child sex abuse in football, authorities said on Thursday, as British football confronts one of the biggest scandals in its history.

A string of ex-footballers, including former England internationals, have come forward in the past month alleging they were the victims of sex abuse when they were youth players.

Police forces across Britain are looking into the allegations that have rocked football.

"We've received 109 referrals which relate to child sexual abuse within football," chief constable Phil Gormley told a Scottish Police Authority meeting. "Specialist officers from the national child abuse investigation unit are assessing the information coming into us and determining the most appropriate response."

Underlining the scale of the inquiry in Britain, a telephone hotline dedicated to helping those affected by the abuse has received 1,767 calls in three weeks.

The number was set up by child protection charity the NSPCC and the English Football Association after former player Andy Woodward told the Guardian newspaper about the abuse he suffered as a boy in Crewe's youth academy, prompting other former players to step forward.