Can we talk about the football sex abuse scandal?

Pat Nevin put it very well on 5live this morning. It's not just football coaches, it's across the board with people in a position of trust and a position of advantage. It's not just the very brave high profile footballers that have spoken publicly, it's at grass roots level in every sport. Read The Secret Footballer to understand initiation rites and the grunt work apprentice players go through to prove their worth. He's about the same age as Dave White, Andy Woodward, Paul Stewart and Steve Walters. What if instead of being told to clean boots or stand on a chair and sing a song you're told to perform a sex act on your coach in order to get a game? Insert that scenario for any sport and you get why Danny Murphy says he's not surprised it's come to light.

It's not a feminism issue, it's a humanity issue. It's come to the attention of the media because four brave men stood up and said 'this happened to me'. Yes, football does get a high profile, but these men were professional footballers at a high level. In a sport where there are no openly gay footballers at top level, it's a massive taboo.

I think that this coming out from the footie community will be a hugely positive thing.

It's wrong. Full stop.

Victims who speak out should be heard. It should be made easy for them to do so.

I don't actually care that much where the initiative comes from (and football clubs are very rich so I damned well hope they're covering the costs).

Anything that says predatory sexual behaviour is wrong is fine with me.

And ask hope heterosexual footballers are paying heed too.

I think sadly the common factor is the gender of the perpetrators. I think any opportunity for victims to find their voice is important and I hope more men will come forward. I think male victims have an extra problem coming forward about sexual abuse because of homophobia, and if the medium of football encourages people to come forward that has to be a good thing.

Saville case has changed how we deal with sexual abuse

Attitudes will take time to change though I haven't heard any remarks along the lines of why didn't they say something before

And I do believe many people will view this being worse than a man abusing young teenage girls because many see young teenage girls as untrustworthy, temptresses and so on