Val McDermid, Raith Rovers and the Rapist

I was just about to post an update on that, Sarnia. It is a U-turn for the club, who've clearly only now realised the catastrophic implications of this. However, I do think there are a lot of questions still to be answered though - such as who authorised this signing in the first place, given the concerns which had previously been expressed, and who drew up the press statement regarding the signing, which simply dug an even deeper hole. Given that the new statement refers to the whole thing as an 'unfortunate episode', I think the club needs a new PR person, for starters!

That does speak volumes, Sarnia.

As for the idea that Val McDermid should have given money to make life easier for male rapists - words fail me. She is a feminist, not a male apologist, for goodness sake. It is absolutely not her responsibility to support schemes to stop men from raping - we should be able to rely on the law for that.

Blondiescot

I was just about to post an update on that, Sarnia. It is a U-turn for the club, who've clearly only now realised the catastrophic implications of this. However, I do think there are a lot of questions still to be answered though - such as who authorised this signing in the first place, given the concerns which had previously been expressed, and who drew up the press statement regarding the signing, which simply dug an even deeper hole. Given that the new statement refers to the whole thing as an 'unfortunate episode', I think the club needs a new PR person, for starters!

Too true. It shines a poor light on a club that they were prepared to sign someone who has committed such an awful crime because their league table position is more important than anything else. Last night's game only had 60% of their supporters. I wonder if that prodded someone into action this morning. The current crop of footballers with serious charges being investigated need to be made an example of, if found guilty and never be allowed near a club again. We need a few more Karren Brady's in the Board Rooms.

Ministers have announced plans to scrap an order forcing all NHS staff in England to get vaccinated against Covid, in a U-turn that will prevent an exodus of thousands of frontline health workers.

Jerseygal

Ministers have announced plans to scrap an order forcing all NHS staff in England to get vaccinated against Covid, in a U-turn that will prevent an exodus of thousands of frontline health workers.

Just a chance you're on the wrong thread here.

Jerseygirl is new and finding her way about! ?

Doodledog

That does speak volumes, Sarnia.

As for the idea that Val McDermid should have given money to make life easier for male rapists - words fail me. She is a feminist, not a male apologist, for goodness sake. It is absolutely not her responsibility to support schemes to stop men from raping - we should be able to rely on the law for that.

Doodledog Only you could have taken a post suggesting thatthe way football treats young boys who eventually become rapists is somehow support for rapists. What I was suggesting was that if someone is putting money into an organisation that produces damaged young men (and surely if men become wife abusers, rapists and aggressive in their early 20s, not to mention drunks and drug users, they are damaged) and makes millions of pounds from these young men. the least they could do is do something to prevent that happening. Which isn't excusing rapists or making life easier for them it is addressing a problem at its root and hopefully protecting far more young women than ranting at one footballer or one club could ever do. You just get rid of one rapist and leave the others in development. Because that is what taking boys as young as 9 or 10, teaching them they are special, training them in aggression and conflict and giving them inflated egos whilst paying them huge sums as they reach their late teen does, and will continue to do, whatever happens to Goodwillie.

Is it though?, it may be but what is the rate of violence and sexual violence amongst plumbers, builders and other Male dominated professions. I want to know what the problem is and if its male violence rather than football then we need to look at addressing that.

Galaxy that is a possibility. But no one is pouring money into those jobs, whereas huge amounts are being spent on these boys in training/physiotherapy costs etc. It seems therefore reasonble that some money should be paid towards looking at the problem and who knows there could be a knock on effect for all boys and men.

Sarnia….as a footie aside, I hope you are watching what is coming through because of GFC. It’s sparked a huge resurgence in the youngsters and a lot of GY coming on the latest was to Wigan last week.

Although Raith Rovers have done a Uturn they have a signed contract with the player so he will be able to sue them. He will probably do this as no one else is going to want to sign him.

I thought he'd been playing for another Scottish club for some time. Was that somehow OK?

25Avalon

I don’t like Joey Barton or Lee Bowyer either but they have been allowed to progress.

I hadn’t forgotten past misdemeanours of this disreputable pair, either. Another example of the lack of any moral compass in football.

It’s not illegal Aveline, but morally it’s a cesspit.

Chewbacca, there is currently a high profile, unnamed rugby player accused of rape.
and there have been other incidents.
www.theguardian.com/news/2018/dec/04/rugby-rape-trial-ireland-belfast-case

Doodledog Only you could have taken a post suggesting that the way football treats young boys who eventually become rapists is somehow support for rapists. What I was suggesting was that if someone is putting money into an organisation that produces damaged young men (and surely if men become wife abusers, rapists and aggressive in their early 20s, not to mention drunks and drug users, they are damaged) and makes millions of pounds from these young men. the least they could do is do something to prevent that happening. Which isn't excusing rapists or making life easier for them it is addressing a problem at its root and hopefully protecting far more young women than ranting at one footballer or one club could ever do. You just get rid of one rapist and leave the others in development. Because that is what taking boys as young as 9 or 10, teaching them they are special, training them in aggression and conflict and giving them inflated egos whilst paying them huge sums as they reach their late teen does, and will continue to do, whatever happens to Goodwillie.

There is no need to get personal. It's clearly not 'only me', as can be seen from other comments, and I didn't say that 'the way football treats boys is somehow support for rapists'. I said that telling someone that she should be spending her own money on initiatives to socialise men, or on rehabilitating rapists so that they can go back to well-paid jobs is an insult.

I understand about addressing problems at their root, but that is not VM's (or any other donor's) responsibility. Socialisation of boys is the responsibility of parents and schools, with the law as a deterrent if that fails. It is not for anyone to tell a donor where she should put her support. If a fan wants to support a football team she should be able to do just that, without having to take responsibility for the way the players behave, any more than a theatre-goer who sponsors a theatre should be told that they should divert some of their money into the re-education of predatory actors. I applaud her for her actions, which seem to have given 'the incident' the publicity that has forced the club to make a U turn.

I know it's not illegal 25Avalon I'm just wondering why the other club and it's staff and supporters weren't much bothered about his crime.

From what I've read Aveline, When Goodwillie was signed by Clyde in March 2017, the club attracted considerable criticism – similar to that now being levelled at Raith – after the player was branded a rapist in a civil court.

However, British women have changed considerably since 2017; there has been the Me Too movement plus several high profile incidences where women have been sexually abused, raped and murdered. The mood has changed dramatically and women are now being more vocal that it's no longer acceptable to sweep these crimes under the rug and for men to carry on regardless. Men are being held to account.

Concerns were raised at the time when Clyde signed Goodwillie, but whether their supporters weren't quite so vocal or determined, the club basically ignored the protests and the whole thing died down. Perhaps Raith thought the same thing would happen this time too - despite having been warned before signing him that it would be a bad move. Obviously, as has been pointed out, there has also been a major change in the way violence towards women and sexual assault is perceived in the intervening years too.

Doodledog Val McDermid has been a sponsor of Raith Rovers for many years, surely it would be a feminist action to say her money should be used to educate footballers, particularly the club trainees about omen and their right to say "No". It's a bit tough to place this entirely on the shoulders of these boys parents when for many of them the club becomes the main influence in a child's life.
It's interesting that the FA guidelines on children in football and problems make no mention of coping with violence and agression, apart from bullying

Raising awareness of potential vulnerability
5.3.1 Children and young people with disabilities
5.3.2 Children and young people from minority ethnic groups
5.3.3 Female genital mutilation
5.3.4 Forced marriage
5.3.5 Honour based violence
5.3.6 Supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people 5.3.7 Children and young people who take on leadership roles Dealing with bullying
5.4.1 Bullying as a result of any form of discrimination
5.4.2 Cyberbullying
5.4.3 Taking a proactive approach
Reducing the potential for vulnerability

Perhaps it's time awareness of agression and rape was on that list

trisher - Val McDermid has been a sponsor of Raith Rovers for many years, surely it would be a feminist action to say her money should be used to educate footballers, particularly the club trainees about omen and their right to say "No". It's a bit tough to place this entirely on the shoulders of these boys parents when for many of them the club becomes the main influence in a child's life

Surely it is not up to women to act as rehabilitation centres for the criminal behaviours of entitled and misogynistic men. This is not really an issue of "education" but an issue of football's tolerance for violence committed by men because the macho football establishment rates kicking a ball more highly than women. There have been plenty of campaigns regarding consent in recent years - surely footballers cannot have missed all of them.

Would you be happy if your daughter was a junior player at Raith Rovers and forced to share facilities with a known rapist and violent criminal? David Goodwillie has 3 assault convictions in addition to the finding of rape. The club's selling point was its family atmosphere but obviously women didn't rate very highly.

Val McDermid's decision to shift her support to the women's team is a good one in my opinion.

Perhaps footballers could take part in something similar to ‘taking the knee’, with regard to ‘Women’s Lives Matter’, before each match?

Thank you Cold. you said what I started to type yesterday but realised it was pointless, as it would be met with a personal slight and a twisting of what I said. Good luck to you ,

It's the depressing "same old, same old" isn't it? Ever increasing incidents of male rapists, sex abusers, violence against women and children and the stock answer is still the same: "Well women, what are you going to do to rectify this?" Male sports are inherently aggressive, football in particular. Add an over abundance of money, privilege and testosterone fuelled male arrogance that they can demand anything they want and you have a perfect storm for them to demand and women to comply. This is not a woman's problem to resolve. Women don't have to do anything to make this right. This is a male problem and it belongs squarely on their shoulders to sift through the rotten apples, deal with them and stop giving them a free pass because they can kick a ball in a straight line.

Good post, Chewbacca. What you say reminds me of the necessity in some branches of many religions, including Christianity - but not the branch I belong to! - for women to cover their heads or even their faces because otherwise they might lead men astray, the poor wee things. You have to feel sorry for these men who can't control themselves in the presence of such horrible and yet tempting women oh no you don't.