A WOMEN’S domestic abuse charity have ended their partnership with Bristol City after signing Danny Simpson.
The 34-year-old former Manchester United and Leicester right-back has penned a short-term deal with the Robins until the summer after his arrival on a free transfer.
But the move has been met with plenty of opposition from supporters following the 2016 Premier League winner’s conviction six years ago for assaulting his then-partner.
In December 2014 an eight minute phone call was made to 999.
Manchester Magistrates Court heard that Simpson was found by a police officer on top of his partner at their Worsley home with his hands around her throat.
He denied the charge but was found guilty of assault at Manchester Magistrates Court and served a period of 145 hours of community service.
Simpson, who spent last season at Huddersfield Town, has now reunited with his ex-Foxes boss Nigel Pearson at Ashton Gate.
However, Women’s Aid have decided not to use Bristol City in any of their campaign materials due to his previous conviction.
That includes a photo of a pledge made in 2014 and removing details of the club from their website.
A statement from the charity read: “Women’s Aid has taken the decision to remove Bristol City from our Football United Against Domestic Violence campaign materials following the decision to sign convicted domestic abuse perpetrator Danny Simpson for the remainder of the 2020/21 season.
“While we understand that Simpson’s court case was in 2015 and his sentence for ‘throttling’ his girlfriend has been served, there is the significant issue that as an experienced and successful football player, he will be a role model for young fans and teammates.
“There is no public message about rehabilitation or perpetrator programmes, or understanding that domestic abuse is rarely a one off event, but an ongoing pattern of control and fear.
“Under a fifth of women experiencing abuse ever contact the police, and most domestic abuse will never be prosecuted.”
It continued: “Following the tragic murder of Sarah Everard, alongside many other women who have been killed, there is currently a national conversation on how we can reduce violence against women.
“One of the main ways we can do this is by not ignoring or minimising violence against women where it happens.
“On average, one woman is killed by a current or former partner every four days in the UK – it is vital we talk about it and take it seriously.”
