Ched Evans

[Bold Seagull]

There you go another example of further punishment by people outside of the court building....I'm slowly getting an indication that some people see it as their right to inflict further punishment, whatever the offence.

In most professions, you'll get struck off following a conviction. Doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers etc. They will not only lose their jobs, their conviction is likely to cost them their career. Yet there seems to be an endorsement that a football player, who enjoys great wealth through entertaining can return into the arms of their profession with impunity. This probably goes against every other walk of life. It's not a right to inflict further punishment, but a player not only signs a contract with a club, they sign a code of conduct with the FA.

 

[The Rivet]

In most professions, you'll get struck off following a conviction. Doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers etc. They will not only lose their jobs, their conviction is likely to cost them their career. Yet there seems to be an endorsement that a football player, who enjoys great wealth through entertaining can return into the arms of their profession with impunity. This probably goes against every other walk of life. It's not a right to inflict further punishment, but a player not only signs a contract with a club, they sign a code of conduct with the FA.

I cant disagree with your points about certain professions enacting their own punishments on individuals and perhaps footballers should be included but, where do we go from here then? Are ex cons to be jobless for life living off of my/our tax in benefits?

 

[The Rivet]

Right, enjoyed the debate so far but am off out to lunch now. Be back later.

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

He is a rapist and violated someone, he shouldn't be aloud to play football and earn thousands a week

and he's done his time?

I'd agree if he were a serial offender but if you read the case it's not as black & white as you feel?

Surely unless it impacts on their work, then once you've paid your dues back to society you are free to continue your career?

 

[Bold Seagull]

I cant disagree with your points about certain professions enacting their own punishments on individuals and perhaps footballers should be included but, where do we go from here then? Are ex cons to be jobless for life living off of my/our tax in benefits?

No I haven't said that, and you already know that as you replied to a previous post.

 

[Surrey_Albion]

and he's done his time?

I'd agree if he were a serial offender but if you read the case it's not as black & white as you feel?

Surely unless it impacts on their work, then once you've paid your dues back to society you are free to continue your career?

It does impact on his work! He has influence of people

I bet if was a tory politician who served time and wanted to come back an mp there would be allot of people with "done his time veiws" on this who would say no to an m.p

 

[Braggfan]

and he's done his time?

I'd agree if he were a serial offender but if you read the case it's not as black & white as you feel?

Surely unless it impacts on their work, then once you've paid your dues back to society you are free to continue your career?

Someone else posted earlier about whether the type of crime has a bearing. Let me ask you a question, if a player was a child rapist do you think that they should be allowed back ino society to continue their job as a player once they've paid their dues? If not, how is that any different to someone else convicted of rape.

 

[sparkie]

Would rather get relegated from the football league, than pay that crim even 1 pound of wages.

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

Someone else posted earlier about whether the type of crime has a bearing. Let me ask you a question, if a player was a child rapist do you think that they should be allowed back ino society to continue their job as a player once they've paid their dues? If not, how is that any different to someone else convicted of rape.

I would imagine, as most players come into contact with children, that there would be an issue as a child could be considered more vulnerable to influence from such a person. So what should happen to a person on leaving prison, should they be left with no chance of employment, no chance of rehabilitation and leaving themselves destitute? This player, even post conviction, has still maintained his innocence. The court found him guilty so we can assume they are right and he is guilty, but this sentence isn't one that he should be impacted with for the rest of his life, should it?

If we don't allow prisoners to integrate back into society we're going to have a serious problem in the future.

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

It does impact on his work! He has influence of people

I bet if was a tory politician who served time and wanted to come back an mp there would be allot of people with "done his time veiws" on this who would say no to an m.p

No my feelings on the rehabilitation of offenders stretches to all people, regardless of their previous employment. Clearly a person with a career in Finance can't go back to the same job but still has other opportunities open to them.

 

[brakespear]

Not in a million years. It would literally be the worst thing the club had ever done if they went down that road. I'd rather play with 10 players every week than sign him. Thankfully I think the club have got too much class to even entertain it.

This.

 

[London Irish]

I agree private organisations have that right but only since CRB/DBS checks came into being, otherwise its possible that you wouldn't have known anything about convictions concerning anyone not famous or a footballer. I'm not one of these hang 'em high and forget them type of people/person but we are finding out who are on here! Sexual offences are different to 'standard' crimes and as such treatment by society is much harsher but it still comes down to this: Punishment as ordained by the court has been discharged, sentence of imprisonment served. Where does he go from here, genuine question, I'm not defending him.

I agree it's a moral minefield - and I tend to err on the side being liberal in giving people second chances. But I think the guiding criteria has to be rehabilitation out of the public limelight. That's tough for those with jobs that involve having a public audience of course, but a balance has to be struck that doesn't involve causing further insult to victims. But those are my standards - in a free country it's right that individual football clubs have the right to decide their own course of action with regard to the views of its supporters. I would put my views to Barber if there were any prospect of us signing him.

 

[London Irish]

No my feelings on the rehabilitation of offenders stretches to all people, regardless of their previous employment. Clearly a person with a career in Finance can't go back to the same job but still has other opportunities open to them.

The case of the hedge funder who fare dodged $43,000 was a case in point. He would struggle to go back to any job that involved certification of financial probity.

 

[Braggfan]

I would imagine, as most players come into contact with children, that there would be an issue as a child could be considered more vulnerable to influence from such a person. So what should happen to a person on leaving prison, should they be left with no chance of employment, no chance of rehabilitation and leaving themselves destitute? This player, even post conviction, has still maintained his innocence. The court found him guilty so we can assume they are right and he is guilty, but this sentence isn't one that he should be impacted with for the rest of his life, should it?

If we don't allow prisoners to integrate back into society we're going to have a serious problem in the future.

You're right the question boils down to what do we do with prisoner's after their release, and no people can't be left destitute and on the streets, if for no other reason than they're much more likely to reoffend. However saying he can't go back to being a footballer is not saying he shouldn be unemployable, just he shouldn't be employed in his previous job. As you say yourself most players will come into contact with kids, and any type of rapist is not allowed to be in contact with kids because they are vulnerable. Child protection laws are in place to prevent that from happening.

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

You're right the question boils down to what do we do with prisoner's after their release, and no people can't be left destitute and on the streets, if for no other reason than they're much more likely to reoffend. However saying he can't go back to being a footballer is not saying he shouldn be unemployable, just he shouldn't be employed in his previous job. As you say yourself most players will come into contact with kids, and any type of rapist is not allowed to be in contact with kids because they are vulnerable. Child protection laws are in place to prevent that from happening.

Child Protection Laws would support the club, the children and Ched in such a situation, IF he was deemed a risk the risk would need to be removed, a professional footballer can still ply his trade. I said he could come into contact, he doesn't have to. I wonder how many people don't want him to play for Sheffield United because of his offence and how many are just resentful that footballers earn a lot of money?

For me IF a person can go back to a profession where they can earn and be self sufficient and have a chance to reintegrate then they should, I am NOT saying this is right but it is my opinion.

 

[Braggfan]

Child Protection Laws would support the club, the children and Ched in such a situation, IF he was deemed a risk the risk would need to be removed, a professional footballer can still ply his trade. I said he could come into contact, he doesn't have to. I wonder how many people don't want him to play for Sheffield United because of his offence and how many are just resentful that footballers earn a lot of money?

For me IF a person can go back to a profession where they can earn and be self sufficient and have a chance to reintegrate then they should, I am NOT saying this is right but it is my opinion.

I do see your point about a person going into a job and reintergrating into society and I do think prisoner rehabilitation especially sex offenders is a taboo subject, without any easy answers. What I can't help thinking about is how would you feel if you were a rape victim working at a club or a supporter of the club who then employed a convicted rapist. The argument of he's done his time and shouldn't be punished further seems pretty hollow if you're the one living with the consequences of that everyday. I believe there are some actions that hold consequences beyond your custodial sentance and sometimes that means you can't go back to certain jobs. Although what is particularly tricky with football is it's not a normal job. You can argue being a footballer doesn't put you in contact with vulnerable people like say a teacher would, but then you could also argue that the high profile nature of the job means they are a unique position to influence and come into contact with people in different ways. I think probably we're going to have to agree to disagree on what we think is more important.

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

Just out of Fairness,

Please read

http://www.chedevans.com/

Thanks for that - just goes to show everything is not always black and white.

And after all, some of our own were comparatively recently involved in something similar.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Thanks for that - just goes to show everything is not always black and white.

And after all, some of our own were comparatively recently involved in something similar.

He was found Guilty. Ours weren't.

His appeal failed.

 

[Braggfan]

Thanks for that - just goes to show everything is not always black and white.

And after all, some of our own were comparatively recently involved in something similar.

And as pointed out by a previous poster, information put out there by his friends and family, which isn't exactly an independent source.

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

And as pointed out by a previous poster, information put out there by his friends and family, which isn't exactly an independent source.

He was found Guilty. Ours weren't.

His appeal failed.

I wasn't trying to comment on the rights and wrongs of the case, but just interested to realise that there is some debate about the case, whether or not it is biased. To read some on here, one would think he was a cross between the Yorkshire Ripper and Ian Brady and I expected to read that he was holding people at knifepoint and wearing a mask while doing the evil deed.

And, as the father of two (grown-up) daughters, I am not trying to diminish rape in any way or say that there are degrees of rape, or say that the girl was "asking for it". I do not know enough about the case to make such assumptions.