FIRST Minister Nicola Sturgeon has spoken out after rapist David Goodwillie was sent back to Clyde on loan from Raith Rovers.
On Tuesday, Cinch Scottish League One side Clyde confirmed the loan signing of former Scotland striker Goodwillie from Raith until the end of the season.
The 32-year-old, who was found by a judge in a civil case in 2017 to have raped a woman, had joined Raith from The Bully Wee at the end of the January transfer window.
As a result of the move, several prominent supporters, directors and sponsors, including high-profile author Val McDermid, withdrew their backing of Raith while two of the six club directors quit.
At the time, Sturgeon praised McDermid and the women’s team captain Tyler Rattray for their “principled” stances.
"But the fact they’re in this position at all reminds us that our society still has a way to go to make zero tolerance of sexual violence a reality,” she added.
Raith subsequently apologised, confirming Goodwillie would not be playing for them and they reviewed the forward’s contractual position, having signed a two-and-a-half year deal, as well the composition of their board.
On Tuesday, Clyde announced Goodwillie would now be spending the rest of the campaign back at Broadwood. Following the news, both McDermid and Sturgeon again stepped in.
READ MORE: There will be rapists in Scottish football until the culture changes
The First Minister took to Twitter to say: “For the record, I think this is as wrong as the signing by Raith Rovers. I strongly support rehabilitation but it must start with remorse. Someone who has shown none for the trauma he caused cannot be a sporting role model.”
Sturgeon also shared a post from Rape Crisis Scotland describing the transfer as “a shameful decision that sends yet another clear message of disregard to survivors of rape and sexual violence”.
And the author said that “disgusted doesn’t even begin” to cover how she feels.
McDermid told her followers: “All that mealy-mouthed stuff from the board about contract-ending negotiations? Do @RaithRovers think we'll all have forgotten about this by the end of the season?”
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