Scottish Greens call for football abuse inquiry
The Scottish Government must establish a judge led public inquiry into sexual abuse in football, Scottish Greens justice spokesperson John Finnie MSP has said.
Mr Finnie made the call after the SFA published its independent review of sexual abuse in football, a document which reveals shocking contempt for the welfare of young people.
John Finnie MSP said:
“The publication of the SFA’s independent review into sexual abuse in football makes for difficult reading. Much of the detail contained in the report is horrific and reveals a culture of contempt for the welfare of young people.
“The report makes clear that many of the young people who were victims of this abuse continue to bear the physical and emotional scars of these awful events throughout their lives. It is right that the football clubs and organisations acknowledge their culpability and that compensation is made available to victims, but it cannot simply be left to clubs to do the right thing.
“The next step has to be that the Scottish Government establishes a judge led public inquiry. Only a statutory inquiry with the powers to compel witnesses and access all relevant documents can truly assess the scale of these horrific events and pave the way to justice for the victims.”