The FA are urged to overhaul safeguarding regulations and provide victims of abuse with more support

The FA is facing calls from players to review its protection regulations to provide more support for victims of abuse following Sportsmail revelations about an Aston Villa manager accused of asking young women for nude photos.

Villa Academy manager Jack Peel resigned in September 2021 and was subsequently banned by the FA after investigations by the club and the FA concluded he was guilty of sending inappropriate text messages to the club’s players.

However, several of Peel’s alleged victims were never contacted or informed about his suspension, which has led the PFA to demand changes to the FA’s protection policies.

The players’ union previously expressed its dissatisfaction at not having been informed about any of the investigations and the lack of support offered to the players following the Sportsmail reports last month. Talks on the matter are understood to be ongoing.

The PFA fears that failing to provide information to whistleblowers could erode faith in the system and prevent other victims of abuse from coming forward. One consequence of the FA’s strict confidentiality policy is that support is often not offered to victims.

The 27-year-old resigned on the day he was due to attend a disciplinary hearing at Aston Villa before the FA banned him following an investigation.

Several parents whose daughters had testified against Peel told Sportsmail last month that they had not received any information about the case nearly 18 months after it was first reported.

“No one has answers,” said one. ‘He gets pretty angry. Everyone is so afraid to speak because they are worried about their football career. All girls want a professional contract and if a coach sends you a message, these girls will think that he can take them somewhere.

The FA’s position is that they cannot provide information to victims of abuse as a result of their duty to protect the confidentiality of the alleged perpetrator.

In Peel’s case, the FA also claimed that it was not necessary to speak to all the victims, as they obtained enough evidence to ban him from other venues, and it was understood that much of it was contained in his mobile phone.

Several players told Sportsmail about the distressing impact Peel’s alleged behavior had on their lives, with one saying she was so sickened by the messages that they made her dislike football.

Another described how she felt uncomfortable having to train and squat in front of Peel after he texted her. She also said that her experience has made her uncomfortable around other male trainers.

“The FA have strong safeguards in place, and all referrals to the FA are handled in accordance with our policies and procedures,” a spokesperson said. “We do not comment on individual cases.”

However, several of Peel’s alleged victims were never contacted or informed about his suspension, which has led the PFA to demand changes to the FA’s protection policies.