Chelsea Football Club paid a former youth team player to keep quiet after he alleged he was sexually abused by a staff member, it is alleged.
The payout was sanctioned after the man claimed he was assaulted by ex-head coach Eddie Heath in the 1970s, according to reports.
It comes as Chelsea announced it has appointed a law firm to investigate historic claims of sexual abuse.
The allegation about the payout was made in The Telegraph, which reports it was sanctioned in the last three years, and the money was paid on the condition that the former youth player did not speak about the abuse.