Last updated on .From the section Scottish

Child protection policies in Scottish football are "not fit for purpose" and must change to prevent future cases of sexual abuse, according to a report.

The work was commissioned by the Scottish FA in December 2016 following allegations of historic abuse spanning decades.

The independent inquiry is led by former children's charity executive Martin Henry.

It will publish a collection of interim findings on Thursday.

The report cannot be published in full until legal proceedings, in some cases relating to the report, have been concluded.

Among its findings, it highlights:

Gaps in the system that still leave children at risk

A shortfall in money and resources to help tackle the issue

A need for football clubs to accept greater responsibility for affiliated youth clubs

The requirement of a designated Scottish FA board member for safeguarding issues

Scottish football's governing body announced it would commission the report at the end of 2016 after a number of victims came forward to tell their story.

That also followed criticism from the Scottish Parliament, where the Scottish FA was accused of being "asleep on the job" around areas of child protection.

Earlier that year, BBC Scotland revealed a gap in background checks for coaches working with children across the country.

As of November 2017, a total of 298 criminal cases have been recorded with Police Scotland linked to sexual abuse in Scottish football.