First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has called for action to be taken by the SPFL over the controversial signing of David Goodwillie. The signing of Goodwillie by Raith Rovers has been widely criticized after the court ruled him to be a rapist in 2017. The fans have started a petition to restore the club’s reputation by the removal of the player.
“It would be appropriate for the SPFL to take action,” First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said after the signing of David Goodwillie. “We have to recognize footballers are role models and young boys and girls look up to footballers so there is a responsibility on football clubs to make sure those role models are positive. We are talking about a football player who in a civil court was found to have raped a woman, who as far as I’m aware, has never expressed any real remorse or reflection and I think that sends a really damaging message.”
“I think it tells us that while we talk about the importance of tackling sexual violence and abuse of women, we have an awful long way to go to make zero tolerance of sexual violence as a reality,” she added. “I hope Raith Rovers reflect carefully on the groundswell of opinion that has been expressed from all walks of life but most particularly from their own fans, and perhaps think again about this decision. It sends the wrong signal, message, to society and particularly to women.”
