ASTON Villa did not go to the police when they sacked a scout in 1988 who was accused of abusing boys, it is claimed.
Paedophile Ted Langford was convicted of sex offences dating from 1976 until 1989 a year after being fired by Villa.
Victim Tony Brien claims Langford abused him from the age of 12 when he played for local team Dunlop Terriers in Birmingham.
The BBC Victoria Derbyshire show reports that around six years later he reported the abuse to Villa’s then-assistant manager Dave Richardson, who later became the Premier League’s head of youth development.
Mr Richardson raised the matter with manager Graham Taylor and chairman Doug Ellis but did not contact police because he said the “parents did not want to take the matter forward”.
Mr Brien, who has waived his right to anonymity, claimed that senior figures pressured him to not pursue the matter, according to BBC Derbyshire.
He said that he had effectively been told to “sweep the matter under the carpet and keep quiet”, but this is strongly denied by Mr Richardson.
Recalling the abuse, Mr Brien said: “Langford said he needed to take a sperm sample to determine whether I had footballer’s genes or not. I felt ashamed and dirty.”
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Langford, who died in 2012, was jailed for three years in 2007 for the sexual abuse of four young players in the 1970s and 80s.
He was a scout for Aston Villa and Leicester for most of that period.
Leicester City said in a statement that the club has “no indication of any current or historic allegations made against or in relation to [its] employees.
“We would, of course, investigate fully in the event any further information comes to light.”
An Aston Villa spokesman said the club “considers the safeguarding and welfare of all players and staff to be of paramount importance.
“Aston Villa would encourage anyone with any allegation or concern regarding safeguarding or other potential wrongdoing to contact the relevant authorities.”
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