Manchester United is now facing a lawsuit over historic sexual abuse allegations involving former employee Billy Watts. The case claims the club failed to protect a young boy who was in its care during the 1980s.
Civil Case Filed Against the Club
The claimant says he suffered abuse as a child at the hands of Billy Watts, who worked as a kitman, groundsman, and caretaker at the club’s Cliff training ground. Watts passed away in 2009.
The survivor argues that Manchester United held responsibility for his safety and failed to safeguard him during that period. When approached by the BBC, a club spokesman declined to comment.
Law Firm Criticises Lack of Cooperation
Simpson Millar, the law firm representing the claimant, states that Manchester United has not engaged meaningfully with the legal process. The lawyers say this is particularly concerning because the club participated in the 2021 Sheldon Review. That review recorded several abuse allegations involving Watts and confirmed that the club took disciplinary action against him in 1989.
Kate Hall, abuse law specialist at Simpson Millar, said, “Our client has shown enormous courage in coming forward after so many years.”
She emphasised the need for accountability, adding, “Survivors deserve more than sympathy – they deserve meaningful engagement and accountability.”
Formal Court Proceedings Begin
According to the firm, the club’s limited cooperation has “meant the survivor has had no option but to issue formal court proceedings.”
The legal action now moves forward as the claimant seeks justice for the abuse he says he endured decades ago.
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