FOOTBALL 'SHAMBLES'

KIDS' football is facing another summer of chaos that could stop youngsters playing the beautiful game.

- BY MARK McGIVERN

Coaches are not being vetted quickly enough to be cleared to work with children.

It has led to a huge backlog - and time is running out.

One fed-up coach, who told us there was no way enough checks would be done by the July 1 deadline, said: "It's a shambles."

The Scottish Football Association has been forced to fund emergency staff to deal with a two-month backlog in processing Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) applications for all adults dealing with kids. Clearance must be in place by July 1, or any club or individual will breach new safeguarding legislation.

We can reveal the debacle has led the SFA to announce a review into the running of its affiliate body, the Scottish Youth Football Association.

A top consultancy firm is likely to be appointed in coming weeks, at the agreement of both organisations, to probe how huge administration backlogs have severely hampered youth football for two seasons.

It is understood some SYFA officials feel bitterly aggrieved at a funding gap, while the SFA is angry at reputational damage caused by disruption of a sport that involves more than 80,000 players, over 15,000 coaches and many more from families.

The SFA said the SYFA is now on "special measures" until the review takes place.

One coach said: "It's hard to see how all the leagues will be up and running by August.