Review expected to demand football clubs apologise to sexual abuse victims

Scottish football clubs should be ordered to apologise to victims following an independent review of historic sexual abuse.

It is thought the panel, chaired by a former children's charity executive Martin Henry, will demand clubs accept responsibility and offer a 'sincere and genuine apology' to victims.

It is expected to be 2020 before the full findings are released but solicitor Patrick McGuire, who represents Celtic Boys Club victims, is welcoming the news.

He said: "It has been a long time coming and it really justifies everything we've been saying about abuse in Scottish football for many years now. The question really is now when and how long it'll take clubs to respond to this.

"If they properly accept responsibility, if they truly face up to the wrongs that were committed in their name then they would hand in glove with that offer financial redress. It's all part and parcel of what survivors need to recover and what society expects these football clubs to do.

"Every survivor of historic sexual abuse in every setting requires the same thing. They require an acknowledgment of what happened and they require an honest apology."

Four men associated with Celtic Boys Club have been found guilty of abusing young kids including Jim Torbett, Frank Cairney and Jim McCafferty.

Last week a former Motherwell youth football coach was also jailed for the historic sexual abuse of young players.

69 year-old Bob Allan was convicted of assaulting two boys aged 13 and 15 in the 80s and 90s.

He was sentenced to 18 months behind bars.

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