Sunderland says it didn't know Adam Johnson would change plea
Former Sunderland player Adam Johnson was found guilty of one count of sexual activity with a girl aged 15 at Bradford Crown Court on Wednesday, leading the club to release a statement clarifying its decision to lift the suspension it originally imposed following his arrest.
Related: Johnson 'likely' to face prison after being found guilty of underage sex charge
Wednesday's verdict joins counts of grooming and sexual activity that the 12-time England international already admitted to, drawing renewed attention to the fact Sunderland suspended him March 2, 2015 after his arrest but lifted the suspension two weeks later.
During the court case, it was suggested that Sunderland knew Johnson was going to change his plea to guilty on two of the charges just before the trial, possibly as a strategy that would allow him to keep playing football for as long as possible.
From the statement:
The club was advised by police of the broad nature of the allegations against Mr. Johnson, who was being advised at all times by his own legal team. The club felt that the decision to suspend was appropriate at that time, even though he had not then been charged with any offence. Two weeks later, his suspension was lifted after a meeting between the club and the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), and after the club took independent legal advice. The club reached this decision only after carrying out a safeguarding assessment and liaising with relevant agencies.
Sunderland maintains that the winger claimed he would continue to plead not guilty to all four charges and stressed his innocence up until Feb. 12, 2016, when Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of grooming and one count of sexual activity at the hearing.
The statement continues:
The club did not give evidence either for the prosecution or the defence in this case. It was therefore not present in court when it is understood that a suggestion was made that the club knew all along that Mr. Johnson was intending to change his plea just before trial to enable him to continue to play football for the club and that the club may also have been involved in tactical discussions about the plea. This is utterly without foundation and is refuted in the strongest possible terms.
Sunderland said it has no further wish to comment on the matter and wishes the victim and her family to be allowed "to move on with their lives without further intrusion or public scrutiny."