A young man has received £40,000 in compensation after he was mentally and physically bullied by two football coaches.

The young man was attending a sixth form college in North London under a scheme designed to encourage promising footballers to develop their soccer skills and study at the same time.

Two coaches at the school subjected the young man to 18 months of abuse. They regularly slapped, punched and kicked him as well as squeezing his throat. They locked him in a metal cupboard, watched him while he was getting changed and showering and subjected him to verbal abuse.

Initially, the young man was reluctant to come forward through shame, embarrassment and fear that his football career would be jeopardised. When he finally told his father of the treatment he had endured, a complaint was made to the school, which initially suspended the coaches but then reinstated them after only two weeks. As a result, the young man dropped out of college.

The young man’s family then lodged a complaint with the Football Association, which carried out an investigation into the coaches’ conduct and eventually found that the claims of sexual misconduct and assault were substantiated.

The family then issued proceedings against the college. They argued that it had failed in its duty of care to the young man. At first the college argued that the coaches’ behaviour was merely ‘horseplay’, but later agreed to pay compensation of £40,000 in settlement of the claim.

The college has now implemented child protection and anti-bullying policies and procedures to protect young players.

If you or a member of your family has been injured, whether physically or psychologically, as a result of bullying, we can advise you on the best way to claim compensation.