DORSET Police has become the latest force to confirm it is investigating claims of historic child sex abuse in football.

The situation has been labelled the worst crisis in the history of the Football Association, with chairman Greg Clarke admitting he does not know if historical sex abuse within the game was covered up.

The scandal came to light when ex-professional footballer Andy Woodward and other players waived their anonymity and came out as victims of abuse.

Mr Woodward claims to have been abused by former football coach Barry Bennell, a convicted paedophile at the heart of allegations surrounding widespread child sex abuse in English football during the 1980s and 1990s.

Bennell has this afternoon been charged with eight sex offences against a boy. 

After a 30-year silence, Mr Woodward came forward last week, prompting more men to report their own experiences to police.

So far Greater Manchester Police, Metropolitan Police, Northumbria Police, Hampshire Police and Cheshire Police are all looking into complaints made by former players.

This afternoon, Dorset Police confirmed to the Echo that they had also received reports of sexual abuse.

A special helpline set up in the wake of the scandal has already received more than 250 calls from alleged victims.

FA chairman Greg Clarke today told Sky News: "I think institutionally, all organisations in the old days used to protect themselves by keeping quiet and closing ranks. That's completely inappropriate and unacceptable today.

"It's certainly the biggest (crisis) I can remember."

He said the FA must 'get to the bottom' of why allegations were not dealt with before.