Scottish kids are "at risk from paedophiles because football chiefs are not doing enough to protect them," a "bombshell" report from MSPs warned on Wednesday, according to David Clegg of the Scotland DAILY RECORD. They are demanding "urgent action" to stop predators from "preying on vulnerable young players." The media "exposed cases of sexual abuse in football," including allegations against Jim McCafferty, a former kitman with Scottish sides Celtic, Hibernian and Falkirk. Now, in findings that "will send shockwaves through Scottish sport," MSPs accused the Scottish FA of "being asleep on the job" over the issue. They said that the Scottish Youth FA "misled" government officials over the "extent of a backlog of checks on coaches and officials working with young players." The report said that the system that registers people who work with children "must be tightened" and warned the current Protection of Vulnerable Groups scheme "may not be preventing unsuitable people from doing regulated work" (DAILY RECORD, 4/26). SKY SPORTS reported the SYFA and SFA "rejected claims they are not doing enough to protect young players." But the SYFA defended its actions. A SYFA spokesperson said, "The thousands of volunteers and the staff of the SYFA place the safety of Scotland's youth footballers at the heart of everything we do." The SFA also responded to criticism from the Holyrood report, "admitting there are areas for improvement with the current procedures, while stressing all coaches and staff engaged directly by the SFA are fully compliant with the PVG legislation." An SFA statement said, "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" (SKY SPORTS, 4/26).
