A man accused of defrauding families of an elite girls' football team out of more than £27,000 has been arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation. Jay Austin, 44, from Greater Manchester, was taken into custody in relation to RS Lionesses, a Football Association-accredited grassroots club.
The team, which brought together over 100 young players to compete against Premier League academy teams, allegedly saw Austin advertise numerous matches and tournaments that did not materialize. Parents reported not receiving refunds for canceled events and claimed Austin failed to pay entry fees for some tournaments, while others allegedly did not exist. In some cases, parents were charged for tournaments that were sponsored by hosting clubs and free to enter.
In addition to non-received football kits, parents also paid registration fees and monthly subscriptions. Austin is further accused of pressuring parents into collectively paying £8,500 upfront for the Paris International Cup, scheduled to be held at the Paris Saint-Germain training ground. However, with the tournament approaching, parents discovered that a place for RS Lionesses had allegedly not been secured.
Austin has been released on bail pending further investigation, with Greater Manchester Police appealing for anyone else affected by similar incidents to come forward, stating they believe there may be more unknown victims. Affected parents expressed relief that their concerns were being taken seriously and that evidence had been gathered and provided to the police.
Previously, parents had grown concerned, and Austin reportedly sent a voice note admitting he had "messed up" and was in "massive debt," attributing it to supporting the football team. The team was suspended by Lancashire FA, and Austin faced an interim suspension order and charges of bringing the game into disrepute.
Dozens of families have contacted their banks, identifying themselves as victims of an authorized push payment scam, though recovery of funds has been limited. A GoFundMe campaign was initiated by parents to help send the girls to Paris, raising over £5,000.
One parent, who reported a loss of approximately £2,500, described feeling angry and manipulated, believing Austin played on emotions and parental desire to support their daughters' football careers. Another parent, losing over £1,400, felt "groomed and manipulated," expressing devastation over the potential impact on her daughter's trust and dreams.
Austin, who previously ran a talent agency, denied the allegations, stating that funds went through a business account and not to him personally, characterizing the issue as civil. He claimed payments for the Paris tournament were not taken and that the number of complaining parents was exaggerated. He also stated he had made a "significant four-figure sum" payment to parents as a gesture of goodwill, which some parents have disputed.
The FA has stated it takes all allegations of potential misconduct seriously and reports cases to relevant authorities, including the police, when appropriate. They also investigate possible breaches of disciplinary rules under their jurisdiction.
Authorities are pursuing multiple lines of inquiry and urge anyone with information or who may have been affected to contact Greater Manchester Police or Crimestoppers.