FA and Premier League must improve players' education on relationships, say women's groups

The Football Association and Premier League must improve players' education on consent and healthy relationships, says a coalition of women's groups.

An open letter called on chief executives Mark Bullingham and Richard Masters «to confront a culture of gender-based violence».

It added that changes in football «will have a seismic impact» on society.

The letter was signed by The End Violence Against Women Coalition, The Three Hijabis and Level Up.

It comes after recent high-profile police action in England involving professional footballers.

In Scotland, Raith Rovers announced on Friday that David Goodwillie, who was ruled to be a rapist in a 2017 civil case, would not play for the club after they signed him earlier in the week. Goodwillie and a teammate maintained their encounter with the woman was consensual and never faced a criminal trial but the judge in a civil case ruled that both had raped the woman, saying she had been «incapable of giving meaningful consent,» and ordered them to pay her £100,000 in damages.

The letter says «it is clear that our beautiful game has an ugly underside when it comes to violence against women», adding: «It's time for the FA and Premier League to confront a culture of gender-based violence.»

The organisations call for the FA and Premier League «to show which side they are on when it comes to violence against women and girls».

The three groups want mandatory training for players, coaches, owners and managers on gender-based violence and «clear sexual misconduct policies» which include the option to suspend players without pay and implement lifetime bans.

The letter asks for a gender-based violence charter in football and prevention programmes for academy players.

It concludes: «Football players