A shameful silence
The woman raped by footballer David Goodwillie on why Scotland’s outrage is many years too late
The continuing career of rapist footballer David Goodwillie disgraces his sport and stains Scotland, his victim says today.
Denise Clair, speaking publicly for the first time since Raith Rovers provoked outrage by signing the unrepentant player, said the outcry last week was justified but came many years too late.
She said the willingness of football clubs, the sport’s authorities and politicians, with a few honourable exceptions, to turn a blind eye as Goodwillie continued to play senior football after a landmark civil action confirmed he raped her, has been appalling.
“Of course people should be outraged and scandalised that a man like that was about to play for Raith Rovers but he has never stopped playing,” she said. “He was picked for Clyde four days after judges rejected his appeal and confirmed he raped me. That was four years ago and that’s when people should have been outraged and scandalised.
“Or, going even further back, they should have been outraged and scandalised when the prosecution against him was dropped 10 years ago for reasons which have never been properly explained to me.
“David Goodwillie has already shown he is shameless but everyone who helped him carry on his career without a word of remorse should be feeling ashamed today.”
Ms Clair, 30, said all those who enabled the player to continue to play senior football despite his lack of remorse and all those who turned a blind eye to it should reflect on their silence but, she said, the country is still failing to curb or properly punish male violence against women.
Ms Clair said there was more than enough shame to be shared by the club directors who let Goodwillie wear their jersey after judges ruled him a rapist; the team- mates who played beside him; the supporters who cheered his goals; the fans who sang obscene songs about her or posted on social media threatening to attack her again; the sport’s authorities who did nothing; and the politicians who said nothing as, for four years, his presence stained the so- called beautiful game.
Widespread condemnation only came last week when best- selling novelist Val Mcdermid made public her
He is shameless but all of his excusers and enablers should feel ashamed. Football should feel ashamed. Scotland should feel ashamed
– Denise Clair on unrepentant David Goodwillie continuing football career after judges ruled he raped her