A campaign has been launched calling for an end to tolerance of sexual misconduct in Scottish sport.
End Sexual Misconduct In Sport has written an open letter to every professional sports team in the country calling for them to adopt explicit guidelines on how to deal with sexual crimes and harassment. The campaign was created in the wake of the signings of David Goodwillie by Raith Rovers and Lasse Uusivirta by ice hockey side Glasgow Clan in 2022.
Goodwillie was found to have raped a woman following a landmark civil case in 2017, while Uusivirta confessed to police that he had raped an 18-year-old student at a university in Alabama before fleeing the country to play professionally in Europe. Both were later dropped by their respective teams following fan backlash.
The teams were also criticised for how they responded to the reaction to the signings. Those behind the campaign say the aim is to equip teams with the tools and knowledge necessary for tackling sexual misconduct, rather than for punishing them for poorly made decisions in the past.
It also aims to provide players, coaches and staff with a concrete reporting process for sexual harassment in clubs.
A spokesperson for the campaign said: "In Scotland, we love our sport, especially football, which has such a huge influence on our culture. When decisions like those made at Raith Rovers and Glasgow Clan are made, survivors of sexual misconduct are being told that their experiences don't matter because these people are good at playing football or ice hockey.
"Survivors' experiences are completely minimised and it encourages acceptance that 'these things happen'. Perpetrators are welcomed into a sport because of their sporting ability, which isn't acceptable.
"It also tells young players and kids growing up idolising their sporting heroes that their behaviour doesn't matter as long as they play a sport. There has been a shift in the attitude towards sexual misconduct but there is more that needs to be done."
The open letter was circulated to professional teams in football, rugby, ice hockey, netball and basketball last week, along with their respective governing bodies. So far, none have directly responded to the campaign's first contact.
The spokesperson added: "We hope the clubs and organisations will respond and be ready to engage in a conversation about this. We aren't here to fight against them – we want to make their lives easier and help them be proactive to situations that, in the past, they've had to react to, which hasn't always been best.
"They have tried to gloss over they have done in the past. Fans' reactions [to signings like Goodwillie] gives us hope that things will change."
Anti-gender-based violence campaign White Ribbon Scotland is supporting the campaign, alongside Women In Sport Scotland and Kyniska Advocacy, a campaign for women's safety in sport.
Scottish Labour West Scotland MSP Paul O’Kane said: "I’m supporting the campaign because I agree that sports clubs must have a very necessary and honest conversation about taking a zero tolerance approach towards those guilty of sexual misconduct. Clubs must foster a better culture and attitude where everyone can feel safe and respected”
“Sports clubs and players have an incredibly powerful influence on our wider culture and this campaign is about ensuring that influence is used to unequivocally support and defend victims of sexual misconduct."
The open letter can be read in full here. Those wishing to support the open letter can add their name to a Change.org petition.
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