Glasgow City Council has threatened to 'walk away' from an agreement that allows Glasgow United FC to use council-owned training facilities after David Goodwillie, who was ruled to be a rapist in a civil case, played for the team.
In 2017, a judge in a civil trial ruled that David Goodwillie and footballer David Robertson raped a woman in January 2011. The pair were ordered to pay £100,000 in damages.
They did not face a criminal trial over the allegations.
The council’s leader, Susan Aitken, said: ‘David Goodwillie has been found, in court, to be a rapist. However, in more than 12 years, he has never once shown any kind of contrition or remorse.
‘Any club that signs him is making a very clear statement about its attitude to the safety of women and girls – both in sport and in its community.
‘It would be an outrageous decision, wholly at odds with how community facilities like Greenfield should be run.
‘I’ve asked officers to look at the council’s agreement with Glasgow United and made it clear that I’m ready for the city to walk away.’
Statement from leader Susan Aitken on Glasgow United's use of the council-owned Greenfield Football Centre. pic.twitter.com/yLTwhAxsfX
— Glasgow City Council (@GlasgowCC) July 23, 2023
Goodwillie played for Glasgow United in a friendly earlier this month, but the club has not confirmed whether he has been signed.
The team, which plays in the West of Scotland Third Division, pays to train at the council-owned Greenfield Football Centre.
A club spokesperson has reportedly said: ‘David Goodwillie has never been charged for this offence. He has no criminal record and has never appeared on any offenders register. How can he show contrite or remorse for something he staunchly claims he did not do?
‘We do a lot of work in our community helping those in need and this is only an extension of that work.
‘We are supporting David with his mental health and will continue to do so. This witch hunt has gone on for far too long and the use of any person's life as a political football is unacceptable.’
