Nicola Sturgeon says football authorities should step in on David Goodwillie transfer

Nicola Sturgeon has said footballing authorities should step in to resolve the controversy over the signing of David Goodwillie for Raith Rovers.

Goodwillie, 32, was found by a civil court in 2017 to have raped a woman, but continued his footballing career.

His latest move to the Scottish Championship side has caused an outcry from supporters, staff and the wider footballing world, with author Val McDermid – whose name is on the club’s shirts and one of their stands – withdrawing her support.

The club’s women’s team has also been hit with a number of resignations, including captain Tyler Rattray, over the signing.

Speaking to STV on Wednesday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it “would be appropriate” for either the Scottish Professional Football League or the Scottish Football Association to step in over the controversy.

The First Minister, however, did not go into specifics about what she thinks should be done.

“Football players – it’s not an ordinary job, like First Minister is not an ordinary job,” she said in a later interview.

“Football players are role models and football clubs have a responsibility to make sure they’re positive role models for the wee boys and wee girls who look up to them.

“This is a player who was found in a civil court, albeit on the balance of probabilities, to have raped a woman, and as far as I’m aware hasn’t shown any remorse or reflection for that and I think that Raith Rovers really do have to reflect on the message that sends.”

In a statement released on Tuesday, the club said the signing was “first and foremost… a football-related decision”, which the First Minister said “compounded the problem rather than made it any better”.

She added: “What they effectively seemed to be saying