The Metropolitan Police service are the latest force to receive information alleging non-recent sexual abuse at __football clubs.
The Met's announcement on Friday came at the end of a week which has seen a number of former players follow Andy Woodward's lead in going public with allegations of abuse by coaches.
Football's major governing bodies have offered their support, while a helpline set up by the NSPCC received more than 50 calls within hours of going live on Thursday.
Four forces have now begun investigating allegations following earlier confirmation from police in Cheshire, Northumberland and Hampshire.
Last week, former Sheffield United player Woodward told how he was abused by coach Barry Bennell while at Crewe Alexandra between the ages of 11 and 15.
He was followed by another former Crewe player Steve Walters, ex-Manchester City striker David White and Paul Stewart, who played three times for England during a 19-year career.
Stewart, who played for Manchester City, Tottenham and Liverpool, believes the number of players who will feel more comfortable speaking up now will "be in the hundreds".
In an interview with Sky Sports News HQ, 52-year-old Stewart admits he broke his silence in the hope it would encourage others who suffered similar abuse to come forward.
The __football Association has offered its assistance, and a Premier League statement on Friday read: "The Premier League is very concerned by allegations of historic abuse at football clubs and offers sympathy and support to the brave individuals who have come forward.
"Should anyone have information which can assist with these or other allegations we would urge them to contact the relevant authorities. The FA has introduced a dedicated hotline, staffed by NSPCC professionals, which is available 24 hours a day on 0800 023 2642.
"Anyone who wishes to contact the Premier League directly should email our safeguarding team on safeguarding@premierleague.com.
"All Premier League clubs believe their academies, community projects, and stadiums should be safe and welcoming for young people and work hard to ensure that safeguarding provisions are of a high standard.
"The Premier League and its clubs have followed the principles of the NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit's national safeguarding standards for over 10 years. Each club employs a dedicated full-time Head of Safeguarding, an Academy Safeguarding Officer, a Community Safeguarding Officer, and nominates a Board member as its safeguarding lead.
"There is no complacency - the League's own safeguarding team visits each club regularly throughout every season to guide and quality assure their work with children and young people, ensuring their safeguarding provision meets our requirements.
"We will continue to work with clubs, The FA, statutory authorities, and the NSPCC to ensure that clubs continue to be safe places for the young people who engage with them."
And the UK's Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) has revealed it is closely monitoring the child abuse claims in football.
In a statement, an IICSA spokesperson said: "The bravery of victims and survivors like Andy Woodward and those other former footballers who have spoken out about the horror of child sexual abuse is remarkable, as is that of every victim and survivor who takes that courageous step.
"It is the job of the police and the court system to determine evidence of criminal wrongdoing. Our role is to look at institutional failure to protect children from child sexual abuse and our terms of reference are broad enough to include failures by sports clubs in due course.
"It would not be appropriate for us to say more at this time, on what might be a live police investigation. We will, however, be watching events closely."
Anyone who has experienced child sexual abuse and was failed by an institution can share their experience confidentially with the Inquiry's Truth Project. Call the Inquiry on 0800 917 1000, or email contact@iicsa.org.uk.
Also See:
- Rooney: Abuse victims must call
- FA pledges support to victims