The London-based Chelsea Football Club has agreed to compensate four former youth-team players over past racist abuse they suffered while part of the organization.
The four men sued Chelsea, seeking damages for personal injury and loss over claims that they were "subjected to a barrage of disgracefully offensive racist abuse" from two members of the youth coaching staff in the 1990s.
The abuse happened when the club was under different ownership.
According to the Associated Press, which obtained court documents, one coach “would accompany that verbal abuse with physical assaults of a sexual nature”. The men were aged between 14 and 18 at the time.
The men will received six-figure payments from Chelsea as part of the settlement.
“The club is pleased that we have been able to conclude a settlement of these claims without any further litigation,” Chelsea said in a statement. “We will continue to offer support to the former players concerned through our dedicated player support service.”
