Rapist footballer David Goodwillie has signed a new contract with ninth-tier side Glasgow United in Scotland – 12 months on from his controversial return to the sport.
Goodwillie, who was ruled to be a rapist in a civil case in 2017 and ordered to pay £100,000 in damages by a judge, joined the club last summer.
Glasgow United refused to tear up his deal despite facing a fierce backlash and vowed to stand by him after what they alleged to be a ‘witch hunt’ against the player.
Raith Rovers had terminated his contract before he had played a game after he joined in January 2022 while his former club Clyde also scrapped a loan move.
Rape Crisis Scotland said Glasgow United had sent a ‘clear message of disregard’ to survivors of rape and sexual violence after allowing Goodwillie to sign.
Rapist footballer David Goodwillie has signed a new deal with ninth-tier side Glasgow United
Goodwillie was ruled to be a rapist in a civil case in 2017 and ordered to pay £100,000
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Goodwillie, 35, went on to score 46 goals in his debut season for the club and has now penned an extension likely to run until the end of the next campaign.
‘The club are pleased to announce after scoring an impressive 46 goals in his debut season at the club, David Goodwillie will continue to wear the colours of Glasgow Utd next season,’ the club posted on X, formerly Twitter.
In 2017, Goodwillie and former Dundee United team-mate David Robertson were ruled to have raped a woman at a flat in Armadale, West Lothian, in 2011.
Neither faced a criminal trial over the rape allegation, however, after prosecutors said there was not enough evidence. Robertson retired from football shortly after the ruling while Goodwillie left Plymouth Argyle by ‘mutual agreement’.
Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken said Goodwillie had not shown ‘any kind of contrition or remorse’ for his actions and warned clubs that signed him would send ‘a very clear statement about its attitude to the safety of women and girls’.
Aitken has also threatened to revoke the club’s access to the council-owned Greenfield Football Centre, where players currently train twice a week.
Glasgow United refused to tear up Goodwillie’s contract despite facing a fierce backlash
Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken said Goodwillie had not shown ‘any contrition’
She told The Scottish Sun: ‘David Goodwillie has been found, in court, to be a rapist.
‘However, in more than 12 years, he has never once shown any kind of contrition or remorse. Any club that signs him is making a very clear statement about its attitude to the safety of women and girls – both in sport and in its community.
‘It would be an outrageous decision, wholly at odds with how community facilities like Greenfield should be run. I’ve asked officers to look at the council’s agreement with Glasgow United and made it clear that I’m ready for the city to walk away.’
Glasgow United, who play in the West of Scotland third division, fielded Goodwillie against West of Scotland Premier Division side Pollok on July 12.
Shortly after, Goodwillie spoke out for the first time since the court ruling in 2017 after guesting on the Anything Goes podcast with Scottish actor James English.
He said he did not feel like he had justice and believes the parties were left in limbo.
