The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
SFA apologises for failing to investigate allegations
Football authority offers to liaise with police to establish full picture
The Scottish Football Association (SFA) has apologised for failing to properly deal with a past allegation of abuse against a youth coach and assistant referee.
SFA chief executive Stewart Regan said his organisation takes full responsibility for child protection failings of the past, amid allegations against Hugh Stevenson.
Pete Haynes, 50, waived his right to anonymity to speak to BBC Scotland and claimed he was sexually abused by Mr Stevenson over a three to four-year period from 1979.
He said it began the day of the 1979 Scottish Cup final between Rangers and Hibernian with the promise of a trial for a new club.
Mr Stevenson died in 2004 and Mr Haynes said he reported the allegations to police in 1993 and 1996, and also warned the SFA, but said he was never told of any outcome.
Mr Regan said: “We are extremely concerned by the allegations made by BBC Scotland tonight relating to historic sex abuse in Scottish youth football.
“On behalf of the Scottish FA, I apologise unreservedly to Peter Haynes for what appears to have been a wholly unsatisfactory outcome to his original sharing of information.
“We will work with existing and former staff to obtain as much information as possible in this regard and have also offered to meet Mr Haynes at a time appropriate to him.
“We will also liaise with Police Scotland to establish a full picture relating to this historic case.
“As stated in our interview, we are grateful to Mr Haynes and to BBC Scotland’s investigations team for bringing this matter to our urgent attention.
“Since confirmation of a confidential hotline and email address for any alleged victims to come forward, we have been in regular dialogue with NSPCC and Police Scotland.”
Mr Haynes said he hopes speaking out will give strength to other victims.
He told BBC Scotland: “I would encourage them to come forward and give information, whether they do that anonymously or like myself come forward and speak out about it.”
Meanwhile, Rangers confirmed a former youth coach was sacked following an allegation of inappropriate behaviour towards a teenage player.
Gordon Neely was a youth coach at Rangers in the 1980s when police were contacted over the claims made by the player and the club said he was “dismissed immediately”.
Hibernian has said it would “cooperate with any investigation” after further claims emerged in the Scottish Sun newspaper regarding Neely allegedly abusing young players at a training camp before he joined Rangers.