February 11, 2021
Scottish FA Chief Executive Ian Maxwell reiterates apology to survivors on behalf of the national game as governing body updates on progress of interim report recommendations
The board of the Scottish FA, having reviewed the final report of the Independent Review of Sexual Abuse in Scottish Football, wishes to reiterate its profound apology to those who have personal experience of sexual abuse in our national game.
Now that the final report has been published, we express our thanks to Martin Henry, the chair of the independent review, and his team, who for the past three years have dedicated themselves to this considerable and unprecedented undertaking.
They have produced a comprehensive review of non-recent sexual abuse in Scottish football, provided recommendations that the game is implementing at all levels to ensure a safer future for young footballers, and, crucially, have given survivors a voice that was previously denied to them.
The personal testimony provided by those survivors is a tribute to their courage and while the final report makes difficult reading it is only by learning lessons from the past that we can we truly commit to the highest standards of wellbeing and protection for young people involved in Scottish football.
To read the full report please visit: https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/media/7516/independent-review-of-sexual-abuse-in-scottish-football-final-report.pdf
If you would like to speak to someone about your own experiences then you can contact:
Police Scotland on 101
NSPCC Helpline for people abused in football: 0800 023 2642
Scottish FA – childrenswellbeing@scottishfa.co.uk
Further information on support services can be found at https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish-fa/wellbeing-protection/adult-survivors-of-abuse/
By Scottish FA
