16.12.2016
Following recent historical allegations of child sexual abuse in football, MSPs on the Health and Sport Committee have announced their intention to take evidence on the issue of child protection in sport.
At a meeting of the Committee on Tuesday 7 February, it has invited the following organisations to appear in front of them.
Panel 1 will focus on football and those invited include SFA, Scottish Youth Football Association and the Professional Footballers Association. Panel 2 will focus on other sports and child protection. Those invited include Scottish Swimming, Scottish Sports Association, Sportscotland, COSLA, Volunteer Development Scotland, Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, NSPCC and Police Scotland.
The Convener of the Committee, Neil Findlay MSP said:
“The recent allegations of historical child sexual abuse in football have rightly shocked people across Scotland and it is the role of this Committee to investigate issues relating to sport. It is clear that this is the single biggest issue affecting sport in Scotland today.
“With this session the Committee will be seeking assurances that the current safeguards and culture within sporting organisations across Scotland ensure that these allegations could not be repeated today. This is why we want to question organisations both on the current safeguarding procedures in sport and also if there is any wider impact beyond football”.
The Committee plans to ask the organisations for written evidence in advance of their appearance in front of them, focusing on two key issues:
- Does the current situation regarding a number of former football players speaking publically about allegations of historical child sexual abuse in football have any impact on your area?
- What assurances can you provide that the current safeguards and culture of sporting organisations ensures that the allegations of historical child sex abuse in football could not happen today in sport?