LONDON -- Former Tottenham Hotspur captain Ledley King hopes a culture change within football in the past 30 years has made it possible for victims of abuse to speak out, rather than suffer in silence.
English football has been rocked by the ongoing revelations of historical child sex abuse. The Football Association has launched an internal review after more than 20 former professionals came forward, while an NSPCC hotline -- set up to offer support to victims within football -- had received 860 calls in its first week.
Some of the victims have described a macho culture within the game that made it difficult to speak out. Andy Woodward, the first former player to do so, told The Guardian: "It was hard because us footballers are supposed to be butch and strong, aren't we?"
Former England defender King, who spent his entire career with Tottenham and remains an ambassador for the club, says young English players were expected to grow up quickly -- a culture that he feels may have contributed to the problem.
"In England we've always had that stiff upper lip," King told ESPN FC ahead of the opening of William Hill's official Spurs shop. "As a young player it was about being tough. It's something people still look for in young players -- to be tough and grow up as fast as you can.
"Obviously, what we're hearing about is disgusting and devastating and I feel for the people involved. Being a young player -- not in the same time as the players who have spoken out, but after that -- I can see how difficult they may have found it to come out and tell someone about it.
"I'm just glad we're in a place in society -- or I hope we are -- that people have a voice and they're not afraid to speak out against any wrongdoing. It was a different time, a different place then and I like to think we're in a better place now and better able to deal with these things.
"It's easier for people to speak up now than it was 30 or 40 years ago. People have a voice."
King is considered one of Tottenham's finest ever players but he suffered repeated injuries and a chronic knee problem forced him to retire in 2012, aged 31. He said there were times during his career when he needed to talk about his state-of-mind as well as his physical condition.
"Of course," the 36-year-old added. "Any player who struggles with injuries will tell you how difficult it is. Speaking about it, getting things off your chest -- that's a great help.
"Not just in football but in any walk of life, in any sport, if you're not able to do something that you love doing, of course it affects you. I think we have a big part to play in sport, in speaking to people, seeing how they are mentally and trying to help them in that way, as well as on the pitch."
King captained Spurs from 2005, under managers Martin Jol, Juande Ramos and Harry Redknapp, and he said he helped counsel teammates, adding that it is the responsibility of the captain and the manager to create an environment where players feel comfortable talking about their problems.