First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has reminded Scottish football clubs that they have a duty to make sure players are 'role models' in the wake of the David Goodwillie storm at Raith Rovers.
And she has urged the Scottish Championship club to have a rethink on the controversial move.
The 32-year-old moved from Clyde to Raith Rovers on January transfer window deadline day, sparking fury from some within the club - most notably sponsor Val McDermid, the crime writer who has removed her funding - and with several rape crisis groups.
Raith Rovers' women's team captain Tyler Rattray also stepped down, in disgust. Volunteers have walked and directors have quit in protest.
Goodwillie was ordered in 2017 to pay £100,000 in damages by a judge in a civil court case, after being found to have raped a woman at a flat in West Lothian six years earlier.
Speaking earlier today, Ms Sturgeon told Clyde FM: "I think the statement Raith Rovers issued last night compounded the problem rather than made it any better.
"I'm paraphrasing the statement but what they effectively seem to be saying is that it didn't matter how a man had behaved towards a woman, the only thing that mattered to them was whether he could score goals for the football club.
"That really illustrated the distance we've still got to go as a society if our rhetoric about zero tolerance of sexual violence or violence against women is a reality.
"Football players... it's not an ordinary job, like First Minister is not an ordinary job.
"Football players are role models and football clubs have a responsibility to make sure they're positive role models to the wee boys and the 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 women and as far as I'm aware hasn't shown any remorse or reflection for that.
"I think Raith Rovers really do have to reflect on the message that sends."
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