Ched Evans

[TheGame]

What are people's views on him returning to football? It is an interesting debate. Seemed to have got alot of people talking on it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29647263

 

[Sir A1ex]

It's a very tricky one isn't it. On the one hand, the whole way out criminal justice system works is that he has been punished and that should be it - it's hard to justify picking one random case and start saying that his future employment should be prejudiced.
But on the other hand I can totally see the point about sending out a message that certain standards of behaviour will not be accepted from somebody working so much in the public eye.

What would possibly help would be some kind of agreed code of conduct before the event. If all league footballers were signed up to an agreement that they would be subject to further sanctions if convicted of certain offences, it could make things clearer.

 

[BAMSOLA]

He's paid his debt to society and football is a profession so any club should be free to hire him without stigma being attached to them (in a slightly odd way them are actually doing society a favor by employing him). There are probably 100's of architect's who have been convicted of rape, served their time and then gone back into the same highly paid role.

I don't buy into this who footballer as role models BS, frankly if your kid sees a football as their role model(as opposed to somebody they simply like for their skills/abilities) then you as a parent need to teach them to be more discerning about how they pick the people they look up to in terms of behavioral standards.

 

[saivet]

Poor move from United. I know there's bias but I know plenty of their fans believe he's innocent and have no issue with re-signing him. Wednesday also took back one a player who got arrested although it was 'only' for assault rather than rape.

No matter how good the player is, I would feel uncomfortable with my club resigning a player that's been convicted of most offences. But at the same time should he be given a second chance? Personally think that if you get a second chance it should be elsewhere.

 

[Getsme]

Not sure about this one, he's served his time therefore he should be allowed to go back into his profession, on the other hand he's a convicted rapist and should have had his c##k chopped off.
At the end of the day though if a Club want to sign them then they have to fully back him, they will also gave to get the fans on board which will be the biggest challenge.

 

[Sir A1ex]

I don't get why the whole thing seems to be based on the idea that SU have automatic rights on him. They terminated his contract, no? Surely he's a free agent, and no more tied to them than any other club?

 

[Ish]

Assuming he's even good enough for professional football.

But yeah, tough one. I'd not be happy if it was United thinking of re-signing a convicted rapist, but yeah, second chances, redemption and all that

 

[Cheesy]

A bit split on this one.

On one hand, the idea of a convicted rapist going back into a profession where he can do really well for himself and almost get away with what he did now he's done his time seems unfair and poor.

But, on the other hand, once criminals are released, they're going to have to earn a wage like everyone else. In that sense, he's perfectly entitled to return to football since that happens to be how he earns a living, and any club is entitled to hire him. He'll be at an automatic disadvantage in that clubs who'd have been happy to buy him will now be more reluctant because of the stigma attached.

 

[Kag]

It'll be interesting to see how his appeal develops going forward.

Either way he's served his time and has the right to employment just like anybody else. Just because he happens to be a good footballer doesn't change that. Brave move from the club which takes the punt.

 

[TheGame]

I'm surprised he'll still be in shape for football and why he hasn't looked at another low profile profession.

 

[RyRoc]

Going a bit off topic here but if he had actually got the 5 year sentence that it said he was due to serve in the article rather then a mere 2 years then that would be 5 years out of the game and he would probably be too old to go back to a well payed football job. Do any convicted rapist or people with similar jail terms get to go back to good jobs? I would of thought that if they get back into work it's doing minimum wage type stuff? Doesn't seem right to me.

 

[Eboue]

He should be allowed to play for any club that wants to sign him. And fans should be allowed to express their disapproval.

 

[limerickcitykid]

He's done his time in prison and I'm not totally convinced he was guilty anyway. Of course he should be allowed to play football, he needs a job like anyone else. Whether it is as a footballer, a plumber or a binman doesn't matter.

 

[peterstorey]

Firstly, even if guilty, he served his time and should now be allowed to live his life and pursue his career (it's a first offence unlike Marlon King who was clearly an unreconstructed scumbag). Secondly, the conviction looked very dodgy to me, particularly given the co-accused was acquitted.

 

[El B]

Ignoring the rape charges and that for a second, anyone else find the whole thing a bit gay? Him landing in while his friend is having sex and trying to join in, two dudes watching throuh the window. Its all a bit homoerotic. 4 lads staring at each others willies.

 

[NinjaFletch]

Complete non-issue. Has a right to do a job the same as anyone else as he has served his time. If it wasn't an emotive crime like rape (without even getting into the mire of if he actually did it or not) and was just something like violent assault or robbery or some shit no one would care.

Ignoring the rape charges and that for a second, anyone else find the whole thing a bit gay? Him landing in while his friend is having sex and trying to join in, two dudes watching throuh the window. Its all a bit homoerotic. 4 lads staring at each others willies.

Yes.

 

[adexkola]

He's paid his debt to society. Let him play. Fans being emotive and stupid shouldn't factor into the decision to hire him.

 

[Eboue]

He's paid his debt to society. Let him play. Fans being emotive and stupid shouldn't factor into the decision to hire him.

It's not stupid to want your club to not hire a convicted rapist.

 

[gormless]

I'd find it hard to cheer a convicted rapist. On the other hand, prison should be about rehabilitation and he should hopefully go on to have a trouble free life. You can't just have all criminals being unemployed.

(I remember reading about the case at the time, and i'm fairly sceptical about his guilt to be honest)

 

[711]

Complete non-issue. Has a right to do a job the same as anyone else as he has served his time. If it wasn't an emotive crime like rape (without even getting into the mire of if he actually did it or not) and was just something like violent assault or robbery or some shit no one would care.

I would.

 

[Ringo 07]

I'm sure Ched has learnt his lesson and was probably fairly drunk himself when the whole thing happened and the evil booze can destroy anyone in 1 night and i'm sure in his drunken state that he thought it would be a laugh that he could share with his co-accused mate after and that he'd get away with it but....

What a muppet to resort to what he did despite being able to pull as many birds as he wished being a professional footballer

Obviously it was not a violent psychopath rape but it was still a fecked up thing to do

I think it would be very hard for him to mentally go back to being a footballer and he'd get dogs abuse and maybe he shouldn't be allowed back to play...but marlon king commited an equally awful offence and got to continue playing ..his best bet would be to start a whole new booze free life in somewhere like vietnam or bolivia and change his name and work in a local school teaching English while playing for a local football team

 

[NotoriousISSY]

The whole thing was very strange. But 30 months on he's done his time and if he can play, he'll play. Fans can't voice their discontent but we all know that if he's successful on the pitch, it'll blow over. That might be wrong in itself but it's the way it'll go (should he actually carry on where he left off).

I think had he been a more high profile player, the witch-hunt to keep him away from football would be a lot stronger - regardless of it being justified or not. The Premier league for example, wouldn't want that bad press to ruin their precious brand.

 

[adexkola]

It's not stupid to want your club to not hire a convicted rapist.

A convicted rapist who served his time in prison. His occupation is football, I see no reason for not hiring him if he is quality. Imagine if every employer had your mindset.

 

[Eboue]

A convicted rapist who served his time in prison. His occupation is football, I see no reason for not hiring him if he is quality. Imagine if every employer had your mindset.

Imagine not wanting a convicted rapist on the team you support.

 

[Snow]

I'm surprised he'll still be in shape for football and why he hasn't looked at another low profile profession.

If there's one thing you can do in prison it's stay in shape. If he was good enough to start for a Championship team, he should still be good enough.

 

[Snow]

Ignoring the rape charges and that for a second, anyone else find the whole thing a bit gay? Him landing in while his friend is having sex and trying to join in, two dudes watching throuh the window. Its all a bit homoerotic. 4 lads staring at each others willies.

Does it matter? What is that the thing you're focusing on in all this?

 

[adexkola]

Imagine not wanting a convicted rapist on the team you support.

I can live with less than perfect individuals playing football for a team I support. They aren't my "role models" or whatever term is thrown about nowadays.

 

[Eboue]

I can live with less than perfect individuals playing football for a team I support. They aren't my "role models" or whatever term is thrown about nowadays.

They don't have to see players as role models. But it's not "stupid".

 

[El B]

Not really focusing on it, I just found it all a bit odd.

 

[Mogget]

It's interesting that some people think Suarez is absolute scum for racist abuse/biting people but would be perfectly fine supporting a convicted rapist. Sure he's done his time, and you can argue that he should be allowed to carry on with his life, but that doesn't mean you'd want him playing for your team. I think it's even worse that there are Sheffield United fans who are convinced he's innocent and are abusing the woman who was raped.

 

[NinjaFletch]

It's interesting that some people think Suarez is absolute scum for racist abuse/biting people but would be perfectly fine supporting a convicted rapist. Sure he's done his time, and you can argue that he should be allowed to carry on with his life, but that doesn't mean you'd want him playing for your team. I think it's even worse that there are Sheffield United fans who are convinced he's innocent and are abusing the woman who was raped.

No one is saying Suarez should not be able to have a job though.

 

[rednev]

It'll be interesting to see how his appeal develops going forward.

Either way he's served his time and has the right to employment just like anybody else. Just because he happens to be a good footballer doesn't change that. Brave move from the club which takes the punt.

There is a lot of optimism in 'his camp' that he will be successful in his appeal. When you examine the evidence that was presented in the trial (as well as evidence that has since emerged/evidence that wasn't allowed to be used in the trial but may be allowed to the used in the appeal), it's easy to see why.

 

[peterstorey]

If he was wrongly convicted how grotesque is it to deny him a living as an additional unwarranted punishment?

This is the basis of the appeal... http://www.chedevans.com/

 

[Tarrou]

It's interesting that some people think Suarez is absolute scum for racist abuse/biting people but would be perfectly fine supporting a convicted rapist. Sure he's done his time, and you can argue that he should be allowed to carry on with his life, but that doesn't mean you'd want him playing for your team. I think it's even worse that there are Sheffield United fans who are convinced he's innocent and are abusing the woman who was raped.

I don't think anyone is supporting him here, just saying he should be allowed to continue working which I agree with. The fact that some other section of the population thinks Suarez is a scumbag has no relevance to the discussion at all, does it? I never heard anyone argue that Suarez shouldn't be allowed to play football.

 

[adexkola]

It's interesting that some people think Suarez is absolute scum for racist abuse/biting people but would be perfectly fine supporting a convicted rapist. Sure he's done his time, and you can argue that he should be allowed to carry on with his life, but that doesn't mean you'd want him playing for your team. I think it's even worse that there are Sheffield United fans who are convinced he's innocent and are abusing the woman who was raped.

I'm gutted that Suarez will miss the Copa America. The ban was a bit of an overreaction IMO.

It's fine to not want him playing for your team. But you have to bring a solid reason to the table. Otherwise it's quite irrational.

 

[jeff_goldblum]

The sentence he got was nowhere near suitable for what he did. He should still be behind bars and no football team should go anywhere near him regardless.

 

[peterstorey]

The sentence he got was nowhere near suitable for what he did. He should still be behind bars and no football team should go anywhere near him regardless.

I don't think he 'did it', how can a jury acquit McDonald and convict Evans? Clearly flawed.

 

[Eboue]

I don't think he 'did it', how can a jury acquit McDonald and convict Evans? Clearly flawed.

She went back to the room with McDonald. She didn't go back with Evans.

 

[Ringo 07]

The blokes got a back door the size of a basket ball hoop now....in many ways he's paid for his sins.....ched evans doesn't come across as a total scumbag like marlon king for example.....seems like the type that had a few drinks and royally fecked up.....hard to judge a book by a cover I guess though

 

[BAMSOLA]

A bit split on this one. On one hand, the idea of a convicted rapist going back into a profession where he can do really well for himself and almost get away with what he did now he's done his time seems unfair and poor.

He wouldn't have almost got away with what he done, he would have served the legally required punishment for the crime and lost two years of his life in the mix. In the eyes of the law he has completely not got away with it.

I don't think he 'did it', how can a jury acquit McDonald and convict Evans? Clearly flawed.

I believe that is because she gave consent for McDonald to have sex with her but not Evans.