Crewe's director of football Dario Gradi will face questions from the Football Association over allegations he tried to brush over a sexual assault complaint during his time as Chelsea's assistant manager in the 1970s.

What happened?

Gradi, who is credited with developing Crewe's successful youth system, will be subject to a probe from the country's football authorities over his apparent complicity in the abuse scandal.

The allegations against Gradi stem from his time at Chelsea, where he allegedly tried to cover up a sexual assault complaint against former chief scout Eddie Heath. A former youth player claimed that Gradi visited his parents and him to "smooth it over" after the incident.

Why it matters for Crewe

The scandal has implications for Crewe, which has been implicated in the child abuse scandal since Andy Woodward's account of the treatment he received from serial paedophile and ex-youth coach Barry Bennell at the club. As of the end of the 2025-2026 season, Crewe stands 11th in League Two, with 67 points from 46 games, and a recent form of DLLLW. | Category | Stat | | --- | --- | | League Standing | 11th | | Points | 67 | | Recent Form | DLLLW |

What comes next?

Gradi intends to "fully cooperate with the FA," according to a Crewe spokesperson. The investigation is part of a broader probe into historic child abuse in football, with 18 police forces investigating as many as 55 clubs. Crewe's last result was a 0-0 draw against Cambridge United on 2026-05-02. The club's goal difference this season is +6, with 64 goals scored and 58 conceded. Crewe is currently 20 points behind leaders Bromley in the title race. The recent form of the team has been 0W-2D-3L in the last 5 games. | Category | Stat | | --- | --- | | Last Result | 0-0 vs Cambridge United | | Goal Difference | +6 | | Title Race | 20 points behind Bromley | | Recent Form (last 5) | 0W-2D-3L