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Scottish second division club Raith Rovers have signed convicted rapist David Goodwillie, sparking a wave of outrage. Club employees and a sponsor are leaving the club with immediate effect.
The striker once even played for the Scottish national team.
imago sport photo service
However, his career took a big hit after he was convicted of rape.
imago sport photo service
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Scottish second division club Raith Rovers have signed convicted rapist David Goodwillie as their new striker.
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After the transfer, there was criticism for the club.
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Star author Val McDermid announces she will end her shirt sponsorship for the club.
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Even Scotland’s Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon speaks up.
A Scottish second division side have signed a striker from a Scottish third division side on deadline day. A message that is actually not worth mentioning. Were it not for the dark past of David Goodwillie, newly signed by Raith Rovers. The 32-year-old is a convicted sex offender and is therefore considered difficult to place on the transfer market, despite his athletic class.
Raith Rovers have faced a veritable storm of indignation since the announcement of Goodwillie’s transfer. On Twitter, fans and opponents of the traditional club reacted emotionally to the arrival of Goodwillie. A user even referred to the second division team as “Rape Rovers”.
Best-selling author ends jersey sponsorship
Several club employees resigned in protest at the controversial signing. In addition to the club director and SLO, Tyler Rattray, the women’s team captain, also left the club. “It’s appalling that I’ve given up now because someone like that has been hired,” Rattray wrote on social media, adding, “But I don’t want anything to do with that.”
Val McDermid now wants nothing more to do with the Rovers. The best-selling author tweeted that she was immediately ending her lifelong support of the club over the “rapist’s obligation” and also ending her shirt sponsorship with the club. “Please remove my name from the list of club sponsors,” said McDermid, who also announced that she would tear up her season ticket for her heart’s club games.
From international to delinquent
Goodwillie was once considered a promising talent and even made three appearances for the Scottish national team between 2010 and 2011. In 2017, a civil court then sentenced him to a fine of around CHF 150,000 because six years earlier he had raped a woman together with a former team-mate at Dundee United.
The footballer denied the crime, saying it was consensual sex. However, the responsible judge believed the victim’s account and found that the woman had been too drunk on the evening of the crime to be able to decide on consensual sex and that she had therefore been raped. However, due to a lack of evidence, the British judiciary decided not to open criminal proceedings against Goodwillie.
Even the Scottish Prime Minister spoke out
After the emotional reactions of McDermid and the outraged club employees in Scotland, the Goodwillie case caused such a stir that even the head of government of the country intervened. The case shows that “our society still has a long way to go to achieve zero tolerance for sexual violence,” said Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
After the storm of indignation, Raith Rovers were forced to make an official statement and explained why they signed the controversial offensive player. In addition to sporting arguments, it was also important to the club to promote Goodwillie’s rehabilitation, especially since he played for the club as a young player.
Goodwillie was officially absent from the Rovers’ home game against Queen of the South on Tuesday night through injury. However, it is assumed that they wanted to protect him because of the massive hostilities.
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