Manchester United settles historic child sex abuse lawsuit with victim
Manchester United reached an out-of-court settlement in March 2026 with a man who alleged he was sexually assaulted as a 14-year-old by former club caretaker Billy Watts at the Cliff training ground in 1986. Watts, who died in 2009, faced multiple complaints and was named in the 2021 Sheldon inquiry. The club paid an undisclosed sum without admitting liability. The victim, speaking publicly for the first time, described devastating lifelong impacts, including suicidal thoughts, and criticized the club for never apologizing.
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A teenager was sexually abused by a Manchester United employee. Forty years on, he is ready to talk.
A man in his fifties, who was sexually abused as a 14-year-old by Manchester United employee Billy Watts in 1986, has come forward to tell his story. The abuse occurred at United's former training ground, The Cliff, during Alex Ferguson's first week as manager. The victim, protected by a High Court anonymity order, brought a claim against the club, which resulted in an out-of-court settlement in March 2026. United paid an undisclosed sum without admitting liability. The victim says the abuse devastated his life, leading to suicidal thoughts at age 19, and criticizes the club for never offering an apology. Watts, who died in 2009, worked at United for three more years after the incident. The Athletic reports this is the first time United has been sued for such abuse since football's sexual-abuse scandal broke a decade ago.
Alleged Victim of Manchester United Employee Billy Watts Speaks Out After 40 Years
A man who was allegedly sexually abused by Billy Watts, a now-deceased Manchester United caretaker, at the club's former training ground The Cliff in 1986, has decided to tell his story publicly for the first time. The abuse occurred when he was 14 years old and visiting to get autographs. The man, who cannot be named due to a High Court anonymity order, brought a legal claim against Manchester United in 2024. The Athletic revealed that the club reached an out-of-court settlement in March 2026, paying an undisclosed sum without admitting liability. The victim states the abuse had a devastating impact on his life, leading to suicidal thoughts at age 19, and expresses hurt that the club has never apologized. United has previously acknowledged other alleged incidents involving Watts, who worked at the club for three more years after this unreported incident.
A teenager was sexually abused by a Manchester United employee. Forty years on, he is ready to talk.
A man, now in his fifties, has come forward to detail how he was sexually abused by Billy Watts, a now-deceased Manchester United employee, when he was 14 years old in 1986. The incident occurred at the club's former training ground, The Cliff, while he was seeking autographs. The man, who cannot be named due to a High Court anonymity order, brought a claim against the club, which was settled out of court in March 2026 for an undisclosed sum without admission of liability. He describes the devastating lifelong impact of the abuse, including suicidal thoughts, and criticizes the club for never offering an apology. The Athletic reports that United had previously acknowledged other alleged incidents involving Watts, who remained employed by the club for three years after this incident.
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Manchester United Reaches Settlement with Victim of Former Employee Accused of Child Sexual Abuse
Manchester United has reached an out-of-court settlement with a man who claimed he was sexually assaulted as a 14-year-old in 1986 by Billy Watts, a former caretaker at the club's training ground, The Cliff. Watts, who also worked as a kit man and groundsman, left the club in 1989 after an internal disciplinary hearing and died in 2009. The settlement, reached in March of this year, involved an undisclosed compensation payment with no admission of liability by the club. Similar cases have seen payouts between £10,000 and £20,000. The club reported multiple complaints about Watts to the FA in 2016, leading to his inclusion in the 2021 Sheldon report on football sexual abuse. The report detailed allegations of inappropriate sexual comments, forced physical contact, and attempted touching of youth players. Manchester United stated it fully cooperated with the investigation and takes such allegations seriously.
Manchester United settle case with victim of alleged historic child sex abuse by ex-club employee
Manchester United have reached an out-of-court settlement with a man who alleges he was sexually assaulted as a 14-year-old by former club caretaker Billy Watts at the club's old training ground, The Cliff, in November 1986. Watts, who died in 2009, was the subject of multiple complaints and an internal disciplinary hearing in 1989 before leaving the club. The civil case, launched in November 2025, was settled in March 2026 without the club admitting liability, with an undisclosed payout. The settlement amount was not disclosed, but similar cases at other clubs have typically resulted in low five-figure sums. The club stated it takes such allegations seriously and cooperated fully with the Sheldon review into football's sexual abuse scandal.
Manchester United settle case with victim of alleged historic child sex abuse by ex-club employee
Manchester United have reached an out-of-court settlement with a man who alleges he was sexually assaulted as a 14-year-old by former club caretaker Billy Watts at the club's old training ground, the Cliff, in November 1986. Watts, who died in 2009, was the subject of multiple complaints about inappropriate sexual behavior in the 1980s and was named in the official Sheldon inquiry into football's sexual abuse scandal published in 2021. The civil case was launched in November 2025 and settled in March 2026 for an undisclosed sum, without the club admitting liability. Watts left the club in 1989 after an internal disciplinary hearing. A Manchester United spokesperson stated the club takes such allegations extremely seriously and has met anyone who came forward with dignity and respect.
Manchester United settle case with victim of alleged historic child sex abuse by ex-club employee
Manchester United have reached an out-of-court settlement with a man who alleges he was sexually assaulted as a 14-year-old by former club caretaker Billy Watts at the Cliff training ground in November 1986. Watts, who died in 2009, was the subject of multiple complaints in the 1980s and was redeployed after a disciplinary hearing before leaving the club in 1989. The civil case was launched in November 2025 and settled in March 2026 for an undisclosed sum, without the club admitting liability. Watts was named in the 2021 Sheldon inquiry into football's sexual abuse scandal after United reported complaints. The club stated it cooperated fully with the review and takes such allegations seriously.