Inquest into Maddy Cusack’s death delayed as forensic audit of medical records ordered
Developed over time first seen 2 months ago
The inquest into the death of Sheffield United midfielder Maddy Cusack, who died on 20 September 2023 aged 27, has been adjourned for a second time this year and will now restart on 7 December. The delay was ordered after additional documents were lodged with the court, prompting the coroner to recall witnesses and apologise to Cusack's family. The repeated postponements, nearly three years after her death, underline how protracted and contested the proceedings have become.
The hearing had begun on 29 June and heard eight full days of evidence, with the coroner due to deliver conclusions on 27 July before the delay was confirmed. In light of the new documents, the coroner said former club doctor Dr Subhasis Basu and former physio Francesca Carr must give further evidence, and that former assistant physio Sean Bowskill—now at UAE side Al Jazira—would be called. The inquest had already been pushed back from 5 January after the family received 699 pages of new evidence from Sheffield United shortly before Christmas, which their lawyers called "totally unacceptable"; the club rejected any suggestion of non-compliance. Still to be heard are the club's head of HR, Vicki Anderson, and the Football Association, which ran an investigation whose findings have been shared with the coroner but not made public.
- Maddy Cusack inquest adjourned again, now restarting 7 December.
- New documents force recall of former club doctor and physio.
- Second delay this year; conclusions were due 27 July.
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Sheffield United midfielder Maddy Cusack died on 20 September 2023, aged 27. An inquest is a legal hearing held by a coroner to establish the facts of a death, including how and why it happened, and it is separate from any criminal proceedings. Because of the circumstances of her death, the inquest is examining her time at the club, including her workload and the medical and welfare support she received.
The hearing involves several key figures from Sheffield United, including the club's former doctor and physiotherapy staff, as well as its head of human resources, all of whom have been called to give evidence. The Football Association, English football's governing body, also carried out its own investigation into the case, though its findings have not been made public. Cusack's family has been represented by lawyers throughout the process.
The inquest matters because it is the main formal process for establishing what happened before Cusack's death and whether anything could have been done differently, and its conclusions could have wider implications for how football clubs handle player welfare. The proceedings have already been repeated delayed, partly due to disputes over the volume and timing of documents provided by the club, which has meant the case has stretched on for nearly three years without resolution.
More coverage
- feeds.bbci.co.uk — Maddy Cusack inquest adjourned over evidence request
- 🔎 Sheffield — Inquest into death of footballer Maddy Cusack adjourned again | ITV News – ITVX
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Inquest into Maddy Cusack’s death adjourned again after new documents lodged”.