Woman raped by David Goodwillie slams football authorities for ‘silence’

It was “shameful” that David Goodwillie was allowed to continue playing football after a court convicted him of rape, the woman he attacked has said.

Denise Clair hit out at the football authorities, accusing them of being “complicit” with their “silence”.

Ms Clair, 30, was speaking out for the first time since Raith Rovers’ signing of the player sparked a major backlash from fans – including author and club sponsor Val McDermid and former prime minister Gordon Brown, who criticized the club.

The signing also led to the women’s team cutting ties with the club and her team – now known as the ‘McDermid Ladies’ – playing their first game on Sunday, supported by the best-selling crime author.

Raith Rovers eventually backed out and announced on Thursday that Goodwillie would not be playing for them after all. Chairman John Sim admitted they had “made a mistake” in signing the 32-year-old.

In a civil case at the Court of Session in Edinburgh in 2017, Goodwillie and his former Dundee United teammate David Robertson were accused of raping Ms Clair and ordered to pay £100,000 in damages.

Robertson has since retired from professional football.

No criminal charges were brought against either of them.

Goodwillie moved to Championship side Raith Rovers from Scottish League One club Clyde FC, where he had played for five years.

It’s shameful that they allowed Goodwillie to continue playing all these years without doing anything

Denise Clair

But Ms Clair criticized the football authorities’ stance, saying: “Their silence has left me deaf.”

She told the Sunday Post newspaper: “It is shameful that they have allowed Goodwillie to continue playing for all these years without doing anything. They are just as complicit in their silence and turning a blind eye as he and Robertson.”

She stressed: “It is not enough for the football authorities, the league and the SFA (Scottish Football Association) to remain silent on this.”

“They talk so much about equality and respect, but when confronted with actual reality instead of chatter, their silence deafened me.

“There must be officials who do nothing other than ensure that players and clubs are properly informed of their responsibilities.

“They should develop sexual violence awareness programs. Practical measures, not warm words about nothing, could bring about real change.”

The SFA has been contacted for comment.