Controversial footballer given chance by junior football club

A charity has hit out after a Glasgow football club recruited former SPL player David Goodwillie.

Goodwillie and fellow footballer David Robertson were ruled to be rapists in a 2017 civil case.

The pair, who have never faced a criminal trial over the allegations, were ordered to pay £100,000 in damages after a judge ruled they raped a woman at a property in West Lothian following a night out in January 2011.

Goodwillie was included in the Glasgow United FC team to play in a friendly match against West of Scotland Premier Division side Pollok last week.

However a spokesperson for Rape Crisis Scotland hit out: "We are deeply disappointed that Glasgow United FC appear to be happy to send such a clear message of disregard to survivors of rape and sexual violence.

"Fundamentally - women's lives are more important than men's talent or careers.

"Footballers are role models - particularly for young people - and it's not okay to have someone in this position who has been found by a senior judge to be a rapist."

Goodwillie, 34, has seen several football club contracts collapse due to public outrage over the case, but was spotted playing for ninth-tier side Glasgow United FC in a friendly match last Wednesday.

A club spokesperson said that Goodwillie "deserves a chance" and that he wants to be "left in peace and be allowed to play the game he loves".

The Rape Crisis Scotland spokesperson added: "We wonder whether those who took this decision to select David Goodwillie for play last week considered how it may look or feel to survivors of sexual violence to have to watch somebody judged to have committed rape be celebrated and applauded.

"This was a bad decision that sends entirely the wrong message."