CELTIC have issued a fresh apology over historic sexual abuse in Scottish football and at their feeder team. 

The East End club have expressed "sincere sympathy, regret, and sorrow" to everyone affected in the game and those who were targeted by Celtic Boys Club officials.  

The Parkhead team were named in an independent review into child abuse, which was published yesterday and said clubs had an "ethical obligation" to say sorry. 

READ MORE: Full scale of historic sexual abuse at Scotland's football clubs will 'likely never be known'

A Celtic statement read: "Celtic welcomes the publication of the Final Report following the Independent Review of Sexual Abuse in Scottish Football.

"The club recognises the courage of all those who came forward and contributed to this review.  

"The abuse of young people is an abhorrent crime, which has unfortunately affected many organisations within Scottish football, indeed Scottish society as a whole." 

Authors of the Independent Review of Sexual Abuse in Scottish Football alleged a number of senior staff at Celtic, including a former board member, had possibly been aware of allegations of abuse within Celtic Boys Club. A number of figures connected to the team have been jailed. 

They also said it was concerning Jim Torbett had been allowed to return to the team despite suspicion being raised about his behaviour. 

A Mr K Campbell, who waived his right to anonymity, said he was sexually abused by Torbett at Celtic Boys Club shortly after joining in 1986. He was 13 at the time.

Glasgow Times: Jim Torbett Jim Torbett  

Torbett has twice been imprisoned for attacking young boys between 1967 and 1994. 

Celtic issued what was believed to be their first official apology to victims last year, but at the time insisted the football team and Boys Club were two separate organisations. 

The report, which made 97 recommendations to football chiefs, praised the Glasgow side for the initial apology and for being the first team in Scotland to employ a dedicated safeguarding officer in 2013. 

Today's statement continued: "The club has publicly expressed its sincere sympathy, regret and sorrow to all those affected across Scottish football including at Celtic Football Club and Celtic Boys Club, something which the Independent Review acknowledged and welcomed. Today we reiterate this apology.

READ MORE: In Full: Celtic's statement as club says 'sorry' for first time over historic child abuse

"Since the publication of the Interim Report, Celtic has been working with the Scottish FA and Scottish football as a whole to review those recommendations and to strive to make Scottish football a safer place for our young people.

"The club remains fully committed to continuing to prioritise welfare and safeguarding protections for our young people, including working with the Scottish FA in respect of the recommendations in this report." 

Authors of the report, which was first commissioned in 2016, said the full scale of historical sexual abuse within Scottish football will “likely never be known”. 

Dozens of survivors who endured “incalculable” suffering at the hands of officials came forward to give evidence, with experts saying they were shocked how easy it was for people to use their “good standing” to again unfettered access to children. 

Glasgow Times: Ian Maxwell, Scottish FA chief executive, also issued a fresh apology yesterday Ian Maxwell, Scottish FA chief executive, also issued a fresh apology yesterday

However, in the majority of cases, the review found no-one in the game had concrete evidence of abuse at the time, but said there were levels of suspicion which could have been acted on. 

“We fully expect people to continue to come forward with accounts of abuse that has occurred in Scottish football in past years,” the report said. “Many will choose to remain silent or sadly are no longer alive to tell their stories. 

“The full picture of the true extent and nature of sexual abuse in Scottish football will likely never be known.” 

Leading lawyers said yesterday that clubs could now no longer hide behind "barricades" and called on a dedicated team to be set-up to ensure the recommendations are acted on. The report's authors cannot legally enforce their findings and instead it is incumbent on the football chiefs to do so. 

Kim Leslie, specialist abuse lawyer at Digby Brown who previously helped a survivor secure compensation against Celtic FC, said: “Abuse survivors deserve support, justice and the ability to hold their perpetrators accountable but if organisations are not part of this solution then they are part of the problem." 

More to follow...