Victims abused by referee Hugh Stevenson say the SFA is blocking justice

Scottish football's governing body is blocking justice for two men who were sexually abused by an assistant referee in the 1970s.

The SFA refused to accept any liability for what happened to the two men.

The men were young at the time.

Between 1963 and 1984 he was an SFA accredited top flight match official. He passed away in 2004.

Stevenson used his official position to befriend, groom and abuse the two young men.

The governing body's lawyers told the two that they couldn't accept any responsibility because Stevenson wasn't an SFA employee.

Mr Haynes said his abuse began in 1979 when Stevenson offered to take him to the Scottish Cup final between Rangers and Hibs at a discounted price.

He said that that day changed his life.

The abuse began on the way home from the game.

Mr Haynes said that it was difficult to talk about what he did but that it was about every depraved sexual act that you can think of.

He was too confused and ashamed to tell anyone, but in 1993 he did.

Jim Farry, who was in charge of the governing body, apologized to Mr. Haynes and said that he had moved on.

Mr Haynes said that he was given a tour of the SFA offices as compensation.

The subject of two investigations in the 1990s, Stevenson was never charged.

He was abused when he was 17 years old.

He said he contacted the SFA and was told to attend an event. I first met Hugh Stevenson that day.

Stevenson abused Mr. McMillan in his car after giving him a lift home.

He said he was frightened and confused.

I grabbed my bag and ran out of the car, but it's always with me.

The men have struggled with mental health issues.

The men were encouraged to pursue a legal case against the SFA after the release of the review.

The SFA was accused of failing to monitor Hugh Stevenson and failing to protect the people he abused.

In a letter to Peter Haynes's lawyer, the SFA's legal team said they had not seen any evidence that Mr Stevenson was an employee of the client.

The SFA must take some responsibility for what happened to Mr Haynes and Mr McMillan, because recent case law makes it hard to prove vicarious liability when a person is dead.

Mr Haynes said he was raped at a corporate event at the home of Scottish football.

Stevenson was not their employee because he was abused on the way home.

I was so sick to read it.

He said that the SFA needs to be held to account.

Those who were affected by historic sexual in Scottish football have received an apology from the SFA.

After the publication of the independent review, they made progress in implementing some of the recommendations.

Ian said he had sympathy, but could not say much more.

He apologized a number of times.

The offer of support is still there.

We are going through a legal process, but I can't talk about it.

I don't want to look like I'm hiding behind that.

The independent review was commissioned by Stewart Regan in 2016 but he said he understood the frustration of men like Mr Haynes.

The review continued after he left the SFA.

It took a long time for the findings to be released.

I am aware that Peter feels like it takes a long time for progress to be made, so I am aware of that.

"Bringing people like him, and others like him, closer to the football family and having regular meetings and discussions would make that softer."