Children's charity Children 1st has called on Hearts to sack player Craig Thomson after he was placed on the sex offenders register for indecent behaviour towards two girls aged 12 and 14 online.
The 20-year-old footballer pleaded guilty to two charges of indecent behaviour and was fined £4,000 earlier this month. Hearts initially decided to keep Thomson, citing mitigating circumstances that they believed assured his conduct would not be repeated.
Kate Higgins, policy manager at Children 1st, told BBC Radio 5 live: "We believe that Hearts football club needs to look again at this situation, not taking action to protect children from the risk of sexual harm is unacceptable. Allowing convicted sex offenders to continue working where they will have direct and indirect contact with children is wrong."
Hearts released statements saying Thomson's actions were a "grave error of judgement" due to "naivety and possible wrong outside influence". The club said it would follow internal procedures, and Thomson has resumed training and issued an apology on the club website, stating he is "fully aware that I have let everyone down".
