Proposals for football regulator 'merit consideration'

Plans for an independent regulator to assess the suitability of professional footballers 'merit consideration', the First Minister has said. 

The proposal was floated by author Val McDermid in the wake of the David Goodwillie row, where Raith Rovers signed and then dropped the player found by a civil court to have raped a woman.

The appointment sparked outrage from fans and even led to the women’s team resigning en masse.

McDermid, who sponsored the club's shirts, ended her financial relationship, saying: "The thought of the rapist David Goodwillie running out on the pitch at Starks Park in a @RaithRovers shirt with my name on it makes me feel physically sick."

In an interview with the BBC after the club dropped the player, she called for “some kind of independent body that regulates the whole game generally, particularly what players can play, who can be on the books, if you like, to play for clubs.”

The crime writer’s proposal was raised during First Minister’s Questions, with SNP MSP Michelle Thomson asking the First Minister to consider the suggestion. 

She said: “Now that Raith Rovers have withdrawn their offer to David Goodwillie the immediate media storm has died down, but an issue remains within the football environment where two clubs felt it appropriate to sign a proven rapist despite no apology or contrition. 

“Furthermore, claims have been made that no payment was ever made to the victim Denise Clair.

“Firstly, given the leadership role that footballers have in our society, does the First Minister support the concept, floated by Val McDermid, of an independent regulator that could for example undertake a fit and proper person test for footballers?

“Secondly, what steps can be taken by the Scottish Government to support a change in the misogynistic culture of football where scoring goals is awarded a higher priority than the safety of women.”

Sturgeon said McDermid's proposal “merits further consideration”.

The First Minister added: “Football clubs have a particular responsibility which reflects their special place with our society. 

“Being a footballer - for different reasons obviously - is a bit like being a politician. It is not an ordinary job. People look up to footballers - that's perhaps not always true of politicians - but there is a responsibility on football clubs to make sure that those playing for them are role models for the wee boys and the wee girls who do look up to them as heroes and that I think is an important responsibility.

“I think the football authorities perhaps need to reflect on recent events and ask the question about whether current rules and regulations are sufficient. 

“Of course, there is a deeper culture within our society and that is reflected in football, we need to tackle misogyny, of course, we have Helena Kennedy right now looking at this issue for the Scottish Government and she is due to report relatively soon, and we will reflect carefully on all of that. That's a more general response but it does have particular questions for football.”

The First Minister also addressed criticism - made Goodwillie’s victim Denise Clair - that there was less outrage over his signing to Clyde in early 2017. 

Sturgeon told MSPs: “It is the case that there are things that went uncommented upon perhaps in past years that are now called out, and that is progress. And it shows us that there is less of a tolerance for misogyny, less of a tolerance for violence against women, but it's not yet zero tolerance and it is zero tolerance we have a responsibility to achieve.”

In a landmark civil case in 2017, the striker was found to have raped Clair in 2011.

She was awarded £100,000 in damages. He denied the allegation and appealed against the judgment, but lost.

Initially, Raith Rovers doubled down on their decision saying Goodwillie’s “footballing ability” had been their “foremost consideration”. 

“While acknowledging the gravity of what happened ten years ago, as a club we fully support and encourage rehabilitation, and many factors influenced our signing.

“First and foremost, this was a football-related decision,” they said. 

But one day later, they let him go, admitting that they had “got it wrong.”