Ex-Welsh player accused of defrauding parents of apprentice footballers

Natasha Harding, former star of the Wales women’s national team, is accused of fraud by families and former teammates, the BBC reports.

Parents paid up to £975 for training sessions which never took place. A figure in Welsh women’s Football with her 103 caps between 2008 and 2022, Natasha Harding (35) faces accusations of fraud. In an investigation published Wednesday, November 20, the BBC reveals that parents of apprentice footballers, former teammates and sponsors are demanding money from her. An investigation was opened by the local police, who received several complaints.

With the academy she launched in August 2023, Natasha Harding – also known as Natasha Allen-Wyatt since her marriage – reportedly collected payments for multiple training sessions aimed at children. She also boasted of having organized 2,000 sessions across Wales.

But many clients would have quickly become disillusioned, finding that the former player only honored one or two sessions when she promised much more. The parents of a 7-year-old girl, for example, say they paid 300 pounds sterling (360 euros at the current exchange rate) for ten sessions. Reimbursement requests reportedly went unheeded, even though the person concerned claims to have “apologized” for the canceled appointments. She made no further comments and her Instagram account was deactivated.

Money never returned to her teammates

Businesses are also complaining. Some claim to have paid large sums of money for sponsorship. But the promises of visibility would not have been promised.

The case gave rise to another of a similar nature. Natasha Harding’s international career came to an unexpected end in 2022. According to the BBC, this decision was linked to her poor relationships in the dressing room. Because several players would have accused him of not having returned money lent to them.

The Welsh Football Association said the alleged actions of its former star were “extremely disappointing”. The body called on client families of its academy to report any “potential illegal activity” to the authorities.