Independent reviewers are satisfied that Celtic FC and its feeder club were “inextricably” linked while abuse took place

Celtic FC will face legal action “within weeks” over systemic sexual abuse at its feeder club, The Times can disclose.

Lawyers representing 20 abuse survivors confirmed that they had informed the Parkhead club that court action would begin imminently after an independent review into sexual abuse within football, commissioned by the Scottish Football Association, said it was satisfied that Celtic FC and its feeder club were “inextricably” linked at the time when the abuse took place.

The review said: “If the relationship and history between the youth football club and the senior club was so shared, so closed and so inextricable on positive achievements then when alleged sexual abuse of young players formed part of the history of one then it too formed part of