Scottish football clubs urged to apologise for historical child sex abuse

Scottish football clubs should issue an unequivocal public apology to those who have been affected by historical child sex abuse, a report has found.

It heard personal accounts from 33 people stretching back to the 1970s.

In the majority of cases, the Scottish FA-commissioned review found no-one in the game had concrete evidence of abuse at the time.

But it said there were varying levels of suspicion that could have been acted on.

The harrowing sex abuse allegations in the report concerned team officials, scouts and coaches.

SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell said the content of the 191-page review had left him "deeply upset".

Senior clubs including Rangers, Hibernian, Motherwell and Partick Thistle were all named in the testimonies.

Celtic Boys Club also featured in often distressing personal accounts of sexual abuse.

Celtic FC has previously said that while it shares "historic contacts" with the boys club, the two are separate organisations.

But the review concludes: "If the relationship and history between the youth football club and the senior club was so shared, so close, and so inextricable then when sexual abuse of young players formed part of the history of one then it too formed part of the history of the other.

"A shared heritage is not confined to trophies, victories and celebration. It also extends to defeats, failures, and deficiencies."

A number of those accused in the report have now been convicted but others have since died.

The review also expresses dismay "that some young people may have been exposed to risk and abuse because adults did not do everything they could to ensure their protection and wellbeing despite reasonable cause for suspicion that abuse was possible."

And it revealed the team received accounts "with specific information concerning possible organised sexual abuse".

It confirmed these are now subject to criminal investigation in Scotland and are also reported to the English FA Independent Review.

The review was commissioned by the SFA following allegations of abuse in Scottish football and beyond and was led by former children's charity executive, Martin Henry.

His interim report, first published in 2018, said Scottish football's child protection protocols were not fit for purpose and that children in the game were still at risk.

That led to an apology from Mr Maxwell who described what happened in the past as "abhorrent".

A total of 97 recommendations have been made, including calls for individual clubs to make apologies to those who were affected, in a bid to help them move on.

The review also calls for Scottish football to do more to tackle homophobia in the game.

The SFA chief executive said: "I am deeply upset by the contents of the final report into sexual abuse in Scottish football and, in particular, by the deeply personal, traumatic experiences endured by young players who were abused by people in whom they and their families placed their trust.

"I reiterate my sincerest apology on behalf of Scottish football to all who have experienced abuse in our national game."

Mr Maxwell believes great progress has been made in recent years and said 80% of the original recommendations are either completed or in progress.

He concluded: "As the report also states, football provides a tremendous outlet for young people in Scotland and it is the responsibility of everyone involved in Scottish football to protect and cultivate that for future generations."

Peter Haynes, who said he was abused by a linesman as a young boy, welcomed the report.

He told BBC Scotland: "Today I am happy for those survivors who had the amazing courage to contribute - at great personal and emotional cost. Today you are heard.

"There are many more who remain silent for personal reasons. I understand. And this report is also for you.

"Some people did not survive this. It was too much to endure and entire families are left bereft and broken. The collateral damage that has been caused is immeasurable. "

Mr Haynes believes the sport was an "easy target" for predators and added: "Together, we have made sure many more layers of protection will be in place for children who aspire, like I did, just to play football for whichever team they follow."

Former SFA chief executive Gordon Smith told BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime he believed some clubs knew about the problem but failed to address it.

He said: "A lot of the time, they were just trying to avoid getting bad publicity themselves so they moved the people on and kept quiet about it.

"When you look back now and the way it was dealt with, it was dealt with very, very poorly indeed."

Asked if an apology was enough, Mr Smith said: "Just a sorry isn't enough when their whole lives have been affected for years and years by this. It doesn't seem enough, it doesn't seem to measure the consequences of this."

The former SFA boss believes the victims, especially those linked to professional clubs, now have a case for compensation.

He added: "A lot of their lives have been ruined. The psychological and emotional effects have been major."

Mr Smith also told the programme he was unaware of the problem during his time at Hampden.

Former Scotland international Pat Nevin, who played for Celtic Boys Club, said he was expecting a "stronger report".

He added: "Many people were hoping to get certainly not closure but clearer answers today. Some people will feel a bit let down by that. But it shouldn't be the end, it should be keep on trying to find out."

Kim Leslie, specialist abuse lawyer at Digby Brown, said: "While this report may offer some survivors the recognition they deserve it remains to be seen whether it will help break down the barricades many clubs hide behind.

"Abuse survivors deserve support, justice and the ability to hold their perpetrators accountable but if organisations are not part of this solution then they are part of the problem."

Joanna Barrett, of NSPCC Scotland, said children had been "badly let down" by Scottish football's child protection policies in the past and described the impact of sexual abuse as "devastating".

She added: "The courage and dignity shown by those who have come forward and reported abuse is immense. They deserve to see a radical transformation in the game's safeguarding.

"It is so important that those who have been subjected to sexual abuse are encouraged to come forward and that they have the confidence they will be listened to and allegations will be thoroughly investigated."