Manchester United reach out-of-court settlement with victim of alleged historic child sex abuse by ex-employee

Manchester United Settle Case with Victim of Alleged Historic Child Sex Abuse by Ex-Club Employee

A former Manchester United kit man and groundsman was the subject of multiple complaints. Michael Regan/Getty Images

By Daniel Taylor

Aug. 27, 2026 | Updated

Manchester United have reached an out-of-court settlement with an individual who alleges he was sexually assaulted by a club employee in the 1980s.

Billy Watts, a caretaker at United’s old training ground, the Cliff, also served as a kit man and groundsman. He left the club in 1989, shortly after an internal disciplinary hearing.

Watts, who died in October 2009, was named in the official inquiry into football’s sexual abuse scandal, published in 2021, after United reported multiple complaints to the investigation team.

Civil Case and Settlement

In November last year, one of Watts’ alleged victims launched a civil case through the High Court seeking damages. The claimant alleged he was sexually assaulted at the Cliff in November 1986, aged 14, shortly after Alex Ferguson’s appointment as manager.

• The case was settled in March, without the club admitting any liability.
• An undisclosed payout was made.
• Other clubs have typically paid low five-figure sums, ranging from £10,000 to £20,000, in similar cases.

Background on Billy Watts

Watts was the subject of a disciplinary hearing in 1989 that led to him being “redeployed” from the Cliff to work at Old Trafford, United’s home stadium.

United have stated that Watts, then in his 50s, left the club a few months later, apparently to take a job as a cleaner at a police station. The club has no official records relating to the disciplinary hearing but felt sufficiently concerned to report Watts to the abuse inquiry led by Clive Sheldon KC.

Findings from the Sheldon Inquiry

The Sheldon inquiry, commissioned by the English Football Association to address the “tidal wave” of complaints that emerged after Woodward’s revelations, documented the following allegations against Watts:

• In the 1980s, the caretaker made inappropriate comments of a sexual nature.
• He physically pulled an individual into an office against his will.
• He followed an individual into a sauna at the training ground and wrestled with him.
• He allegedly tried to touch another individual inappropriately in the showers.
• Youth team players referred to the caretaker as a “pervert.”
• He allegedly tried to touch another boy and, when confronted, said: “I’m only messing, shut up.”

The club referred the matter to the FA in 2016.

Club Statement

A Manchester United spokesperson told The Athletic:

“As we said at the time, we cooperated fully with the Sheldon review in an effort to make sure we were as comprehensive on this important matter as we could be. While it would not be appropriate to comment on individuals, we take any allegations of this nature extremely seriously and have met and listened to anyone who has come forward with dignity and respect.”

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