Tv programme about Torbett - new allegations.

[Scott7 6,173]

In fairness they can't say more than that.

[jhunter 0]

In fairness they can't say more than that.

 

they can say who he worked for and who with

[aweebluesoandso 290]

I think the Dam is beginning to bust wide open on the Celtic Paedophile Ring.

Edited April 26, 2017 by aweebluesoandso

[ian1964 10,761]

SFA 'asleep on the job' leaving kids at risk from sex predators, says bombshell Holyrood report into MSPs demand football chiefs take urgent action as they accuse SFA of complacency and SYFA of misleading government officials over background checks.

 

Scots kids are at risk from paedophiles because football chiefs are not doing enough to protect them, a bombshell report from MSPs warns today.

 

They are demanding “urgent action” to stop predators preying on vulnerable young players.

 

The Daily Record has exposed cases of sexual abuse in football, including allegations against Jim McCafferty, a former kitman with Celtic, Hibs and Falkirk.

 

Now, in findings that will send shockwaves through Scottish sport, MSPs have accused the Scottish Football Association of “being asleep on the job” over the issue.

 

And they say the Scottish Youth Football Association “misled” government officials over the extent of a backlog of checks on coaches and officials working with young players.

 

The probe by Holyrood’s influential health and sports committee was launched after cases of historical child sexual abuse in football came to light over the last year.

 

But the findings relate to the systems in place today – meaning children are still at risk.

 

The report says that the system that registers people who work with children must be tightened and warns the current Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme “may not be preventing unsuitable people from doing regulated work”.

 

A Scottish Government review of the system is expected to take a year and it could be 2019 before new laws are in place.

 

Committee convener Neil Findlay said: “We’re talking about the safety of children – urgent action is needed now to strengthen the scheme as 2019 is too long to wait for new legislation.“We believe the current system of PVG checks may not be preventing unsuitable people from doing regulated work with children.”

 

In February, the SYFA admitted almost 1000 youth football coaches and officials had not completed the full PVG background checks, managed through Disclosure Scotland.

 

During faltering evidence to the committee, SYFA chief executive David Little said the outstanding checks were a result of the high level of churn of their 15,000 volunteers who run leagues and coach 60,000 players.

 

But Findlay blasted: “We have raised serious concerns about the ability of the SYFA to ensure PVG checks are carried out efficiently.“We cannot even now be confident that the SYFA is being truthful in relation to the size of their backlog.

 

“We consider the SFA to have been asleep on the job and continuingly complacent in this area.“We are left with concerns about the current protections being afforded to youth footballers in Scotland.”

 

The report says the buck stops with the SFA and urged them to eradicate “current failings”.

 

It added: “The current approach is not working effectively to protect children and young people in football and in our view, the ultimate responsibility for this lies with the SFA.”

 

MSPs called for strengthening of child protection requirements for all sport governing bodies and recommended grants from SportScotland be dependent on “adequate procedures being in place and adhered to”.

 

The report also raised concerns football agents are not covered by the need for child protection checks and called for the “anomaly” to be addressed.

 

The Scottish Football Association are setting up an independent review, which will consider the PVG process.

 

They were approached for a comment but did not respond.

 

An SYFA spokesman said last night: “The thousands of volunteers and staff of the SYFA place the safety of Scotland’s youth footballers at the heart of everything we do.

“We have tightened our procedures in recent months and are among the very best-performing youth sports bodies when it comes to ensuring Disclosure Scotland checks are carried out in a timely fashion.

 

“We are very disappointed with comments that we in any way misled anyone about our procedures and have been open and honest in all our dealings with the Parliament.

“We will study the report in detail once we receive a copy.”

 

Sport Minister Aileen Campbell welcomed the report. She said: “We all share the committee’s desire to ensure children are protected.“The Deputy First Minister announced a review of the PVG scheme last year. It will lead to a formal consultation and we will take forward any legislation necessary to ensure the PVG scheme retains its essential purpose of safeguarding.”

 

MSPs conducting the probe heard from football bodies, police and children’s charities.They were also warned allegations of abuse may be the tip of the iceberg.

 

Police are investigating 130 reports of child sexual abuse in the sport.

[StuGers 477]

Tacked on to detailed examination of the Whyte trial on BBC Scotland news 5 minutes ago - "Frank Cairney arrested and will appear in court tomorrow."

THat's all. Nothing to see here.

 

I noticed that as well. Completely bulldozed past that one.

[StuGers 477]

SFA 'asleep on the job' leaving kids at risk from sex predators, says bombshell Holyrood report into MSPs demand football chiefs take urgent action as they accuse SFA of complacency and SYFA of misleading government officials over background checks.

 

Scots kids are at risk from paedophiles because football chiefs are not doing enough to protect them, a bombshell report from MSPs warns today.

 

They are demanding “urgent action” to stop predators preying on vulnerable young players.

 

The Daily Record has exposed cases of sexual abuse in football, including allegations against Jim McCafferty, a former kitman with Celtic, Hibs and Falkirk.

 

Now, in findings that will send shockwaves through Scottish sport, MSPs have accused the Scottish Football Association of “being asleep on the job” over the issue.

 

And they say the Scottish Youth Football Association “misled” government officials over the extent of a backlog of checks on coaches and officials working with young players.

 

The probe by Holyrood’s influential health and sports committee was launched after cases of historical child sexual abuse in football came to light over the last year.

 

But the findings relate to the systems in place today – meaning children are still at risk.

 

The report says that the system that registers people who work with children must be tightened and warns the current Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme “may not be preventing unsuitable people from doing regulated work”.

 

A Scottish Government review of the system is expected to take a year and it could be 2019 before new laws are in place.

 

Committee convener Neil Findlay said: “We’re talking about the safety of children – urgent action is needed now to strengthen the scheme as 2019 is too long to wait for new legislation.“We believe the current system of PVG checks may not be preventing unsuitable people from doing regulated work with children.”

 

In February, the SYFA admitted almost 1000 youth football coaches and officials had not completed the full PVG background checks, managed through Disclosure Scotland.

 

During faltering evidence to the committee, SYFA chief executive David Little said the outstanding checks were a result of the high level of churn of their 15,000 volunteers who run leagues and coach 60,000 players.

 

But Findlay blasted: “We have raised serious concerns about the ability of the SYFA to ensure PVG checks are carried out efficiently.“We cannot even now be confident that the SYFA is being truthful in relation to the size of their backlog.

 

“We consider the SFA to have been asleep on the job and continuingly complacent in this area.“We are left with concerns about the current protections being afforded to youth footballers in Scotland.”

 

The report says the buck stops with the SFA and urged them to eradicate “current failings”.

 

It added: “The current approach is not working effectively to protect children and young people in football and in our view, the ultimate responsibility for this lies with the SFA.”

 

MSPs called for strengthening of child protection requirements for all sport governing bodies and recommended grants from SportScotland be dependent on “adequate procedures being in place and adhered to”.

 

The report also raised concerns football agents are not covered by the need for child protection checks and called for the “anomaly” to be addressed.

 

The Scottish Football Association are setting up an independent review, which will consider the PVG process.

 

They were approached for a comment but did not respond.

 

An SYFA spokesman said last night: “The thousands of volunteers and staff of the SYFA place the safety of Scotland’s youth footballers at the heart of everything we do.

“We have tightened our procedures in recent months and are among the very best-performing youth sports bodies when it comes to ensuring Disclosure Scotland checks are carried out in a timely fashion.

 

“We are very disappointed with comments that we in any way misled anyone about our procedures and have been open and honest in all our dealings with the Parliament.

“We will study the report in detail once we receive a copy.”

 

Sport Minister Aileen Campbell welcomed the report. She said: “We all share the committee’s desire to ensure children are protected.“The Deputy First Minister announced a review of the PVG scheme last year. It will lead to a formal consultation and we will take forward any legislation necessary to ensure the PVG scheme retains its essential purpose of safeguarding.”

 

MSPs conducting the probe heard from football bodies, police and children’s charities.They were also warned allegations of abuse may be the tip of the iceberg.

 

Police are investigating 130 reports of child sexual abuse in the sport.

 

Is this the start of a play in which the SFA are going to fall on their sword and take all the blame and keep the focus away from their bosses?

[pete 2,499]

Is this the start of a play in which the SFA are going to fall on their sword and take all the blame and keep the focus away from their bosses?

 

Don't be daft they will push it aside and take a slap on the wrist and say we have to do better, we have plans in motion.

[der Berliner 3,820]

In fairness they can't say more than that.

 

While you would normally agree, what is the difference between reporting in detail about one court action, but not about another (and the reason why this comes to pass)?

[Scott7 6,173]

While you would normally agree, what is the difference between reporting in detail about one court action, but not about another (and the reason why this comes to pass)?

 

Whyte's case is current trial without reporting restrictions.

 

The other fellow has been arrested yesterday for a first Court appearance today. Police reveal minimal details about an arrest and the Procurator Fiscal will release a brief statement narrating only the charges. Anything else and any comment or speculation linking the man to another already convicted might be prejudicial. We don't want him to walk on a technicality.

[ian1964 10,761]

Scottish FA statement on Parliament report

Wednesday, 26 April 2017

 

Scottish FA statement in response to Health and Sport Committee report:

“We welcome the Scottish Government’s recognition that the current format of the PVG scheme is ineffective at present and may not be preventing unsuitable people from doing regulated work. We are in full agreement that this situation should be rectified and the scheme overhauled as soon as possible.

 

“From the moment allegations of child sexual abuse in Scottish football were raised last year, we have been proactive in taking the necessary measures – in partnership with the relevant authorities - to deal with these alleged cases of historic abuse but also to give confidence to young players and their families that Scottish football is a safe environment in 2017.

 

“We have been working with all affiliated national associations, including the Scottish Youth FA to ensure that each of these bodies makes any changes required to ensure they are fit for purpose in this vital area of child protection.

 

“The independent review into the historic allegations is well under way and we will continue to provide updates on the progress made. In parallel, we are engaged in regular dialogue with Police Scotland, who are the investigatory authority in this matter. We have contributed at length to the Health and Sport Committee and note the comments of its chair and the publication of today’s report.

 

“For absolute clarity, as the Scottish Youth FA is the employing organisation for youth football in Scotland. The responsibility for PVG checks in youth football rests with the Scottish Youth FA.**

 

“It is important to stress that all coaches and staff engaged directly by the Scottish FA are fully compliant with the PVG legislation. We have also outlined to the committee the extent of our protracted correspondence with the Scottish Youth FA on the matter of their outstanding checks and gaining clarity on the exact number that remain to be fulfilled.

 

“The board of the Scottish FA has also issued a directive to all our members, including affiliated national bodies such as the Scottish Youth FA, to comply with all policies and procedures issued by the Scottish FA on matters of child protection and wellbeing. We have set deadlines for compliance and implementation and any failure to meet these will be regarded as a breach of our regulations and will result in a referral to the Compliance Officer for potential action by an independent Judicial Panel.

 

“We believe we have demonstrated the seriousness of our intentions and therefore strongly refute and do not recognise Mr Findlay’s own personal opinions.

 

“The committee will surely recognise the importance of devolved responsibility, sitting as it does in the Scottish Parliament, and therefore understand better than most that the Scottish Youth FA has jurisdiction over youth football in Scotland.**

 

“We are fully aware of our own responsibilities as the governing body and reiterate our commitment to reassuring young players and parents that Scottish football is a safe environment in which to play.”

 

http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=1961&newsCategoryID=3&newsID=16914&utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=referral

Edited April 26, 2017 by ian1964