Hoops boss Stephen Bradley hopes FAI abuse investigation is ‘watershed moment’

STEPHEN BRADLEY hopes the allegations made by female footballers about abuse will be a watershed moment for Irish football.

Shamrock Rovers men’s boss Bradley watched the RTÉ Investigates programme on Sunday night in shock as female players accused two former coaches of inappropriate behaviour.

Both coaches deny the claims levelled against them.

Bradley said he had never even heard a whisper about the issues before news broke last Thursday about the programme to be broadcast.

And he hopes it will lead to reform.

He said: “It was disgusting. I felt so sorry for the women. They were so brave in coming out and speaking.

“You only have to listen to them and you can see the effect it has on their lives.

“No one involved in sport at any level, male or female, should have to experience that.

“I think we all know it wasn’t good enough, and it’s not good enough.

“For those women coming out and speaking, we need to make sure we put real safeguards in place, if they are not already in place for men’s and women’s football, kids’ football going forward.

“They’ve been brave enough to re-live that, come out and speak.

“We need to make sure we act and try and give them some comfort that they’ve made change for the better.

“We need to make sure these women get the support they now need, to function and to find themselves again.

“No one should go through that, man or women.”

The joint RTÉ/Sunday Independent investigation claimed former Ireland women’s boss Mick Cooke made advances towards players under his watch when in charge between 1992 and 2000.

And players on a FÁS course in the mid-90s accused former coach Eamonn Collins of having sexual relationships with some footballers under his watch.

Both men deny the allegations, though the FAI has issued a “stand down” order to both meaning they cannot be involved in football activities pending an inquiry by the association.