I am not sure myself as he is a convicted rapist and i would not be happy if i had to work with someone like that.
Dai, I wouldn't want him anywhere near my club. There are plenty of clubs that will take him and I have no doubt if he scores a few goals for them they will all be chanting his name. I suppose everyone deserves a second chance and there are plenty of players at other clubs who have done bad things. Just dont want him at my club.
So here's the real question ... when somebody commits a crime, is convicted, sentenced and does time, are we then as a society to continue that punishment after the person has "paid their dues" or accept that the person has in fact paid his dues. His crime is not one that might indicate mental illness leading to predatory behavior of others, which society in the case of child molesters has through law continued to constrain and monitor. I think it is unreasonable and unjust to continue to punish people once they have served the sentence given by a judge abiding by and on the basis of society's laws.
YJ I agree with what you say and i think in the real world in a job out of the media spotlight there is just no issue. But it will be highlighted to his vistim every time he plays is mentioned on tv. I believe as i said earlier that everyone deserves a second chance. But, would prefer him to be somewhere else other than at our club. Smacks of double standards (by myself) yes but can't help it.
TLF ... that's life. The victim has had justice served on her behalf. His trade is as a footballer; that's how he has best made his living. He should now enjoy his freedom to practice his profession. If the media chooses to make a circus out of history there's nothing he can do about that and he shouldn't be held accountable for it nor pay for it through what is tantamount to a restraint of trade.
You serve your time and should get a chance to move on with your life trying to better it .... for a normal member of society . Im afraid if your a celebrity or a professional athelete , your not only payed handsomely for being well known and talented but also for keeping to the straght and narrow , the public in general dictate it. Hope he gets on with his life trying hard to bring honor and compassion the rest of his story , but not in football. Im sure some team will give him an in when he gets out, money dictates its own rules .
YJ you are right and that is life and it moves on. He should be entitled to now make a life for himself as he has served his time and paid his price according to the laws of the land. But, something doesn't sit right with me. I think the question I have to ask myself is 'how would i feel if he signed for the swans' and I just don't think i would be happy. That's just a personal thing and we are all different. I will ask the questions of the guys on here, how would you feel if GM signed him on his release from prison, would you still go to the games?
I think that's harsh for someone who may have been a victim of miscarriage of justice, the evidence was virtually non-existent and his witness testimonies were rubbished for no reason whilst she had none at all but that still counted as being worth a conviction.
Weren't others aquitted in the same trial? What I am saying if there were. There must have been more evidence in relation to him than the others.
If there wasn't any evidence he wouldn't have been charged by the CPS in the first place. That and the fact a jury found him guilty, I stand by my post.
That was the controversy, the evidence was her word despite the fact she said couldn't remember anything. Everybody else's recollection was dismissed. What she could remember was before getting in the taxi and being all over him and accepting his invitation back to his hotel room, the whole case was a farce.
So another way to look at this is from a club's perspective. A club is going to have to consider their internal value system and whether they want him and his record to be associated with the club. Sponsors may weigh-in on this as well and influence the club one way or another. If it can be demonstrated that he was denied a contract because of some influence by sponsors or parties inside the club exerting their influence then what is his recourse - does he have any. Look at it from yet another point of view. Let's say a player was a malicious mother-****er on the field - a Tommy Smith, Billy Bremner, Ron Harris all rolled up into one - and he made a laugh out of crippling players and had ended the career of more than one player. Would a club want to have that player associated with the them or should they shun him. Both people in these examples have committed acts of "violence". One has been convicted in criminal court, served his time, but is now being shunned from his chosen career. The other has received some red cards, perhaps some suspensions in addition to the standard, but continues to play. He hasn't been convicted in a criminal court for something that would have resulted in a serious assault charge and conviction if it had happened off the football field. What now?
" That was the controversy, the evidence was her word despite the fact she said she couldnt remember anything " ....awesome .I think a lot would hinge on whether he knew it was being filmed.by a third partier (pun intented ) Would a direct hit to his defence, not sure if it was proved , not proved or not raised.
I don't know what you are asking was proved or not proved, but the CPS prosecution was solely based on just one thing... That the 19 year old must have been too drunk to consent. As admitted in court, she was happy to go back there and open her legs before her memory gave way.
Even for many ordinary 'jobs' any conviction prevents a return to work. Sex crimes tend to require a long period of exclusion and anyone in a public position (including footballer) needs to completely rethink their lives. If he or any other rapist had any connection with the Swans I couldn't actively support the club.
