A Premier League club made secret payments to a former footballer, preventing him from going public with allegations of rape at the hands of a youth team coach, The Telegraph can disclose as the Football Association set up an independent internal inquiry into allegations of child sex abuse.

The compensation was signed off in the last two years after the player made a complaint to the club and to the Metropolitan Police. Separate sources have said the victim was convinced that other young footballers at the time were also abused by the coach.

The former player was on the verge of speaking openly about his claims, which could have prompted other victims to come forward, when the football club made an offer of compensation that was bound up in strict confidentiality clauses.