https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blog...w-a-civilised-society-operates-111805966.html Jim White article about the rights of convicted footballers to return to football after serving sentences with emphasis on Ched Evans, a convicted rapist. A very difficult situation...in law he has served his time, so I don't think the FA have any legal right to block his return, but certainly wouldn't want him here and I suspect most clubs would have mass protests if they considered hiring him. His best (and surely his only chance) is to go abroad....can you even imagine the taunts from the stands. Jim White widens it to include killers...would think that depends on the nature of crime....big difference between a pub brawl and strangling your girlfriend for instance. Most tend to be drink driving I suspect...a reprehensible crime, but not one you can't be rehabilitated from (though I would expect the person to show some shame and attempt to make reparation by their subsequent actions). Other lesser crimes should certainly not preclude you from pursuing your career. Some things may be right in law without being right.
It is a difficult situation. He has a right to work, but if never want him at my club. It would be really good if he chose (or was guided to) to donate a large % of his salary toward a charity involving rape victims, or a program educating others who have committed similar offences. Unfortunately I doubt this will happen. He will get employed in a privileged position as a footballer and earn decent money. Personally, and I know it's a little shallow of me, I hope his goal scoring touch and his footballing abilities have suffered while being inside and finds he can't earn now the money he potentially could have a few years ago. Even better, the PFA should ask him to your the country every week visiting clubs and giving talks to apprentices, explaining his remorse and why these young men must respect women and behave themselves. Of course we need to add to this that despite being found guilty he is still trying to prove his innocence
Jim White says that he is not showing remorse, but to do that you have to admit guilt, so he may not want to do that. I don't know enough (anything?) of the case, so can't comment...other than the fact that a jury thought there was enough evidence.
I can't recall the details, however I am aware that his lawyers are seeking to have the decision reversed. I don't on what legal basis, but the still say he is 'not guilty' which would lead to him not doing any of the things I posted above as, like you have posted, showing remorse would be considered a sign of guilt. These cases can be tricky as you almost have a sitiation where the lawyets are saying 'innocent until proven guilty... Twice'
Evans (and his girlfriend) has demonstrated little concern for anyone other than Ched. The sordid details are all out there if you want to see how he and his friends view women and having sex with them. Always a sign of class to film your mates bonking the drunk girl I think. No one in the whole yukky tale comes out with any credit. I still find it strange that someone who shows no remorse and denies responsibility for the crime is able to be released on parole. I know many will say he's done the time, should be accepted back with open arms etc but I really struggle with it. IF he believes he was not guilty of rape and wishes to clear his name fine, though so far his only rationale seems to hound and label the girl involved a "slut". As I say they're real classy types.
There's too much of a "lad" thing going around these days. This kind of behaviour is quite rife at the moment. There was a report in the guardian about this kind of behaviour in sport society clubs at uni not long ago. Not going to tar every sport society or member of a sport society but the uni I went to, the rugby team had a bible they had to go by. It was very wrong to say the least. He obviously still thinks she had agreed to whatever they did. There's quite a frosty line around this situation though in my opinion. I have zero problem coming back to work though, he has a right too and it means he pays taxes.
Very difficult one, and I can understand both sides to this. Personally, I believe in rehabilitation over punishment. I would rather see a man rehabilitated properly, who has served his time and hopefully learnt from his appalling act, and thus able to return into society properly - back into his way of life. I know this will divide a few, and I can see why, but it just comes down to how much emphasis you place on punishment in our criminal justice system.
From what was written in the bbc article I think he was found guilty because the victim was so drunk she had no idea what she was doing or happening to her so she was in no condition to given consent to sex which meant she was raped. She seems to have stumbled in to him and then was taken to a hotel by a group of men where one of them raped her while she was passed out. Whilst his lawyers are trying to reverse the decision he can not admit guilt or show remorse otherwise it will be impossible to overturn the conviction due to his admission that he was guilty. However, if he is still calling her a slut someone should tell him to keep his mouth shut, keep his head down and take the inevitable abuse then try have some kind of football career. His career is harmed because of his crime because no top club and possible no Championship club will touch him. He seems to have been a player with a lot of promise but has ruined it through his arrogance. The Jim White article mentioned Lee McCormick, Lee Hughes and Adam Chapman who all killed people, in Lee McCormick's case two children while drink driving. I know Lee Hughes and Lee McCormick could be playing at Championship level but are stuck playing League 2 with the uncertainties that brings. The crimes of all these players show the problem with football culture in this country. The root cause is the arrogance of all of them because in their minds they were untouchable because of their fame. They were gods in their own mind. Their clubs could have knocked the arrogance out of them but they didn't because of the pressure to succeed and as a result put success ahead of morality. Sadly football is not a moral industry.
I'm sorry I have very little sympathy with the guy........Calling the girl names and denying what he has obviously done. Having intercourse with any lass who is out of her mind and totally drunk, in my mind shows total lack of respect for the female of our species. As the law stands he is of course allowed to return to football. As is anyone convicted of a felony. I personally think he would be very unwise to return to one of the major teams. However to be honest he does not seem to be a guy who has too much common sense.....so watch this space.
Football is a personality business. Reputation is everything. Do fans want to be represented by a convicted rapist? No. Sure, he can get work - but he brings a terrible black mark with him. Footballers live a furtive little world of money and sex. They can transgress many lines we can't and get away with it. Evans was famous for kicking balls and threw it away to empty his. .
If he's done the time, he's free to return to work. Now, it's up to people to decide whether they want to employ him or not.
This is true.....not sure who would be tempted enough to employ him, hopefully not Saints. Like a few of the others with records, it is a possibility he can go back to the lower league, with out a great deal of hassle. Not sure if he would be accepted though, we will have to see.
Wouldn't want him here - hope no decent club touches him. As FLT says, this culture is not a recent thing, been going on for years, but now, at last, there's more moral outrage about it. However, SoriaSaints is right, a lot of these players think they're untouchable and they need to be educated that they need to set an example. I'm not saying that they have to be saints (pun intended) because they're human and have temptations, etc, but they need to get out of the "lad" culture and start respecting women. And, because of that, they can respect themselves. I know that if I'd done that sort of thing (or thought it amusing to film it) I doubt I could hold my head up in any company, let alone be out in the public eye.
Someone will take him on. He's still damaged his prospects massively though. What matters more than his career as a footballer is what, if anything, he's learned as a person. The signs don't look good on that front, but only he really knows if he feels remorse or not.
