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FA's Maddy Cusack report to be shared with coroner

Nick Potts/PA Wire A head-and-shoulders photo of Maddy Cusack. She has a focused expression, appears to be mid-game, and is looking across the image to the left. She is wearing the red and white Sheffield United kit. She has her brown-blonde hair in a high ponytail and is wearing a pink alice band.Nick Potts/PA Wire
Cusack's family say they are "determined to attain justice for Maddy"

The Football Association's report into the death of Sheffield United player Maddy Cusack will be shared with a coroner by the end of this week.

Within a week of her death on 20 September 2023, Ms Cusack's family submitted a written complaint to the club about the conduct of ex-Blades women's team boss Jonathan Morgan.

The complaint outlined a range of issues she had been facing which they said all stemmed from her relationship with Mr Morgan.

Sheffield United's own internal investigation, which concluded in December 2023, found no evidence of wrongdoing.

Joe Giddens/PA Wire A group leaving the court. From left to right: A tall man in his 30s with a brown beard, wearing a long straight grey coat. A woman of a similar age, up to his shoulders, wearing a black dress with some white patterns and a long black coat. A blonde woman in her 50s, wearing a black and white striped top and brown leather jacker. A man who looks in his 60s with white hair, wearing a long black coat and blue scarf with a black satchel over his shoulders. Each couple has their arms linked.Joe Giddens/PA Wire
(left to right) Maddy Cusack's brother Richard with his partner Emily Baker, and her parents Deborah and David Cusack, outside Chesterfield Coroners' Court on Monday

The FA confirmed it had opened an investigation to establish whether "further action is required under our jurisdiction within football" in January last year.

Stephen Walsh, the FA's legal counsel, told coroner Sophie Cartwright at the pre-inquest review on Monday that the report would be shared with her by Friday.

Mr Morgan attended the hearing at Chesterfield Coroner's Court along with the club's current chief executive, Stephen Bettis.

The club sacked him in February 2024 after information came to light about his relationship with a player at Leicester City, where he was manager between 2014 and 2021.

The dismissal was not related to the FA's investigation, but was welcomed by Ms Cusack's family.

David Cusack, her father, said the timeline of her mental deterioration examined by the inquest should begin in February 2023, the same month Mr Morgan was appointed by Sheffield United.

In a statement in September, the family said they are "steadfastly committed and determined to attain justice for Maddy".

"We seek accountability and that comes with truth," the statement added.

The two-day inquest will begin on 16 April, with an overflow date set for 22 April.

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