FOOTBALL team Raith Rovers sparked backlash on International Women’s Day (IWD) as they posted a statement calling for a “gender equal world”.

The Fife club sparked outrage last month when they signed rapist David Goodwillie.

Goodwillie was ruled a rapist in 2017 after a judge found that he and now retired player David Robertson had raped a woman.

READ MORE: Who is David Goodwillie – 'Rapist' signs for Raith Rovers

The two players were ordered to pay damages of £100,000 to the woman, but no criminal charges were brought against either of them.

The signing of the striker led to crime writer Val McDermid ending her shirt sponsorship while a number of supporters withdrew their backing for the club.

The captain of the club’s women’s team, Tyler Rattray, then announced she was quitting playing for the team, before the women and girl’s team broke away to form McDermid Ladies.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Rape Crisis also condemned the signing.

READ MORE: There will be rapists in Scottish football until the culture changes

After a few days, Rovers stated that the former Scotland striker would not be selected for the club and talks were under way over the two-and-a-half-year contract.

A few weeks later, Clyde FC confirmed that they had signed the 32-year-old on loan from Raith Rovers until the end of the season.

On March 4, after the Clyde Ladies team announced their manager had resigned and players no longer wished to represent the club, prompting North Lanarkshire Council to ban Goodwillie from the stadium. It emerged that Clyde were in the process of terminating his loan deal.

Goodwillie now looks set to go back into football limbo after Raith stated they would not play him in the face of widespread criticism.

After this saga, which also included Raith Rovers defending their signing by saying it was “football-related decision”, the team put out a statement to mark International Women’s Day.

“Imagine a gender equal world,” they wrote. “A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination.

“A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated.

“Together we can forge women's equality. Collectively we can all #BreakTheBias.”

READ MORE: Woman raped by David Goodwillie condemns football authorities for ‘silence’

The post prompted hundreds of angry responses within a matter of hours.

“There is surely absolutely no chance they actually thought this would get a positive response,” wrote sports journalist Callum Carson.

STV News reporter Gordon Chree added: “I wonder if this is the same Raith Rovers that signed a rapist and have yet to have anyone from their board explain what they're doing about the impact that had on so many women associated with the club ...”

Kirstin Innes, the author of Scabby Queen, wrote simply “Babe. BABE” in response, while hundreds of others expressed their disbelief.

Rape Crisis Scotland has been contacted for comment.

The Rape Crisis Scotland hotline can be contacted at 08088 010302