Ched Evans

[martin tyler]

This is an interesting case.
As a background the conviction seems a little ropey to say the least on reading the background of the case. However he was found guilty and appeals not got anywhere. He was however sentenced lightly. 5 years is not a long sentence for someone who has gone to trial and been convicted of rape.
Having served his time he should be free to continue to work. He is no risk to anyone on a football pitch and i am sure probation will monitor his behaviour off the pitch as he will still be on licence. The victim would have been aware all along that once his time is served that he could play football again. He will no doubt have to deal with the abuse from fans and opponents alike. We may not like him and the fact he may come back and play football but who are we or anyone else to stop him playing.

 

[Braggfan]

I think thats a peculiar perspective. Its a very arbitrary demand that because he is a convicted rapist, he's no longer allowed to perform in front of an audience in case they cheer him. Rape is a heinous crime, and I wouldn't blame the victim if they wanted to see the perpetrator rotting in jail for the rest of his life. But it has nothing to do with football. Its not down to football to "send out a message" - football is not some kind of moral beacon for everyone to look towards to set a standard. Its just another job.

As for Rolf Harris - he has proved to be a danger to children, so of course his right to work with them is removed because he represents and inherant risk to them.

But who is at risk from a rapist at a football match ?

You not applying quite the same logic there. No Ched Evans isn't going rape anyone on a football pitch, but Rolf Harris isn't going to abuse people on tv either. Who is at risk from a rapist on a football pitch? Who is at risk from a tv presenter on camera?

Rolf Harris being on tv doesn't mean he's automatically going to come into contact with vulnerable people as his tv work doesn't revovle around working exclusively with children. But the question remains should he be allowed back on tv if he's not coming into contact with vulnerable people. My answer would be no just as it is with Ched Evans being allowed back into professional football.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

football is not some kind of moral beacon for everyone to look towards to set a standard.

No, it very clearly isn't. Any old ABHer, GBHer, racist, rapist, manslaughter-er can seemingly get a gig. The profession does seem to draw a line at murderers though; not aware of any premeditated killers in the game.

 

[martin tyler]

You not applying quite the same logic there. No Ched Evans isn't going rape anyone on a football pitch, but Rolf Harris isn't going to abuse people on tv either. Who is at risk from a rapist on a football pitch? Who is at risk from a tv presenter on camera?

Rolf Harris being on tv doesn't mean he's automatically going to come into contact with vulnerable people as his tv work doesn't revovle around working exclusively with children. But the question remains should he be allowed back on tv if he's not coming into contact with vulnerable people. My answer would be no just as it is with Ched Evans being allowed back into professional football.

The difference here will be who is going to employ Rolf Harris after the string of convictions? No one. He will serve his time and that will be that. He is a man whose career was pretty much done anyway.
Evans is a young guy who still has a career in front of him even now. He is likely to have someone who wants him to play for them at some level. Therefore he will end up playing. In your logic are you suggesting people convicted of certain offences should not work? I mean they will always meet vulnerable people in all walks of life.
The cases are also massively different in terms of what happened.

 

[martin tyler]

No, it very clearly isn't. Any old ABHer, GBHer, racist, rapist, manslaughter-er can seemingly get a gig. The profession does seem to draw a line at murderers though; not aware of any premeditated killers in the game.

That is the same in a lot of professions. Unless your profession involves CRB checks then your criminal past is unlikely to affect you. The only real difference is that footballers are almost like celebrities. On the murder front there is a few cases where potential footballers were convicted of murder. The life tariff imposed is normally a minimum of 12-15 years so they would have missed the majority of any playing career.

 

[Easy 10]

You not applying quite the same logic there. No Ched Evans isn't going rape anyone on a football pitch, but Rolf Harris isn't going to abuse people on tv either. Who is at risk from a rapist on a football pitch? Who is at risk from a tv presenter on camera?

Rolf Harris being on tv doesn't mean he's automatically going to come into contact with vulnerable people as his tv work doesn't revovle around working exclusively with children. But the question remains should he be allowed back on tv if he's not coming into contact with vulnerable people. My answer would be no just as it is with Ched Evans being allowed back into professional football.

Rolf Harris is / was primarily a childrens entertainer. His profession centred around making TV shows for children, so it stands to reason that even at the end of serving his time, for his offence, he should no longer be allowed to follow that pursuit where he is directly in contact with potentially vulnerable children.

Ched Evans job as a professional footballer is an irrelevance to the offence which he committed.

Both will have had to sign the sex offenders register, but whilst that would mean someone couldn't be involved with children as a job, it doesn't mean someone can't kick a ball around as a job. Surely that follows ?

 

[Hillian1]

Ron Atkinson: Said a nasty word, won't work in football again.
Ched Evans: Raped a woman, welcome back Ched.

 

[maltaseagull]

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.

Agreed 100%

 

[keaton]

No, it very clearly isn't. Any old ABHer, GBHer, racist, rapist, manslaughter-er can seemingly get a gig. The profession does seem to draw a line at murderers though; not aware of any premeditated killers in the game.

A Brazilian footballer who "meticulously calculated" the kidnap and execution of his girlfriend has been granted work release - so he can play football.

Bruno Fernandes de Souza, formerly goalkeeper with one of Brazil's biggest clubs, Flamengo, is currently in prison serving a 22-year sentence for the murder of his girlfriend, Eliza Samudio.

De Souza, 29, admitted during his trial to "accepting" her murder, before her body was chopped up and fed to his pet rottweilers.

Prosecutors during his court case told the court that de Souza ordered Ms Samudio’s murder after she said she’d take legal action to force him to pay child support.

Ms Samudio’s four-month-old baby was later found in a slum, alleged to have been abandoned there by Dayane De Souza - the goalkeeper's wife.

Despite his confession and prison sentence, the former Flamengo stopper signed a five-year deal with Montes Claros.

A provision in Brazilian law allows prisoners who have shown good behaviour to be granted freedom to work - and having been in prison since 2010, de Souza is eligible - and could be allowed out to resume his career.

Ville Mocellin, the chairman of the club who signed him, explained why they are signing the player.

"We want to give an opportunity to the man Bruno," he told O Tempo.

"For him, it is a chance to return to play. To the club, he is an athlete who can strengthen the team and a way to invest in the social side."

De Souza will have to be accompanied by a police escort to all of his matches.


http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footb...flamengo-goalkeeper-who-3244156#ixzz3Fe9OffmY
Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Facebook

 

[Pavilionaire]

For most people the reality of being imprisoned is that when you come out it is a damn sight harder to get a job because you've been behind bars. Not so for Ched Evans.

The bottom line for me is that he should be allowed to resume his trade as a professional footballer if there is a club willing to offer him a contract. Both parties know what they are getting themselves into.

He's served his time under the rule of law. People may feel his sentence wasn't long enough, but that's a separate issue. Would they feel better if he got 10 years and came out after 5 only to play again? Maybe they would. For his sake I hope he goes out of his way to embrace the community work of his future club.

I also hope opposition fans show some restraint. "Daddy, what's a rapist?" is not a conversation you want to be having with your kids on your day off.

 

[Bold Seagull]

For most people the reality of being imprisoned is that when you come out it is a damn sight harder to get a job because you've been behind bars. Not so for Ched Evans.

The bottom line for me is that he should be allowed to resume his trade as a professional footballer if there is a club willing to offer him a contract. Both parties know what they are getting themselves into.

He's served his time under the rule of law. People may feel his sentence wasn't long enough, but that's a separate issue. Would they feel better if he got 10 years and came out after 5 only to play again? Maybe they would. For his sake I hope he goes out of his way to embrace the community work of his future club.

I also hope opposition fans show some restraint. "Daddy, what's a rapist?" is not a conversation you want to be having with your kids on your day off.

I don't disagree, but most people coming out of prison back into work would expect to be on the low / starting end of the pay scale. There is perhaps no way of enforcing this in reality, but really he should be coming back on the same wage as say a development player on first professional terms or something, not getting a full contract as if he's never been away (which is what will happen).

In many professions, you wouldn't get your professional status back after a prison sentence, let alone walk back in on the same money you left on.

 

[SAC]

For most people the reality of being imprisoned is that when you come out it is a damn sight harder to get a job because you've been behind bars. Not so for Ched Evans.

The bottom line for me is that he should be allowed to resume his trade as a professional footballer if there is a club willing to offer him a contract. Both parties know what they are getting themselves into.

He's served his time under the rule of law. People may feel his sentence wasn't long enough, but that's a separate issue. Would they feel better if he got 10 years and came out after 5 only to play again? Maybe they would. For his sake I hope he goes out of his way to embrace the community work of his future club.

I also hope opposition fans show some restraint. "Daddy, what's a rapist?" is not a conversation you want to be having with your kids on your day off.

I think it will be a lot harder for him to get a job because so many clubs wont touch him with a barge pole.

I also think that opposition fans should be as harsh as possible to show our feelings.

 

[JCL - the new kid in town]

On a related note, do you think his team mates and opponents would be happy to play with/against him? Would hard man type players attempt to injure him because of what he's done?

 

[Pavilionaire]

I think it will be a lot harder for him to get a job because so many clubs wont touch him with a barge pole.

I also think that opposition fans should be as harsh as possible to show our feelings.

So if you're a Sheffield Utd supporter who takes their two primary school kids to Bramall Lane you think it's right that at every home game the opposition should be shouting "Rapist!" and "She said 'No'!" every time he touches the ball, every week for the next few years?

 

[BBassic]

So if you're a Sheffield Utd supporter who takes their two primary school kids to Bramall Lane you think it's right that at every home game the opposition should be shouting "Rapist!" and "She said 'No'!" every time he touches the ball, every week for the next few years?

If I was a Sheffield United fan and they re-employed him, I wouldn't take my two primary school kids to the football.

In no conceivable circumstance would I want my children idolising a convicted rapist.

 

[Hillian1]

If I was a Sheffield United fan and they re-employed him, I wouldn't take my two primary school kids to the football.

In no conceivable circumstance would I want my children idolising a convicted rapist.

This.

 

[Grombleton]

It's a tough issue.

One the one hand, the crime he committed should never be seen as anything other than abhorrent and he should fully expect the abuse that he will no doubt receive any ANY point in his future - whether that be on a Football pitch, walking down the street etc - his life will never be the same again.

On the other hand, he has served the sentence that the court has laid down upon him and they have deemed that his behaviour is good enough to grant early release. As with any criminal, they are entitled to seek work once they are released. Does it make a difference whether this is on a football pitch or in an office? Both have the same probability of him repeating the offence, it is just his profession is performed in front of many thousands more than other people in society. It can be argued that he has a duty as a role model to the younger fans, whilst it can also be argued that the younger fans may be put off by some of the abuse they will hear that is aimed at him - that'll be an interesting chat when the kids get home. "Mummy, Daddy called someone a rapist **** today, what is that?".

There's no guarantees that he will get a contract at a league club - whilst he no doubt had the talent before his imprisonment, many clubs will be looking at their legal team for advice as to the liability...it's not a common occurrence and some may deem the negative publicity/backlash from the fans and media as too high a price to pay for a player that will take some time to regain match-fitness and may not have the same level of performance he had before his imprisonment.

I'm on the fence with this (if you hadn't worked it out already): I'm liberal enough to feel that he has the right to earn money and to try to improve his reputation, whether that be through community work or other means, but at the same time it does send a message that serious crimes are treated with a certain level of distain by clubs, who feel that the financial benefits outweigh any moral dilemmas.

Whatever the situation, I know I wouldn't like to be Ched Evans right now. He's going to be in for one hell of a ride when he is released.

 

[SAC]

On a related note, do you think his team mates and opponents would be happy to play with/against him? Would hard man type players attempt to injure him because of what he's done?

I suspect that there will be a lot of his fellow footballers wont have a problem. I hope I'm wrong though.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Whatever the situation, I know I wouldn't like to be Ched Evans right now. He's going to be in for one hell of a ride when he is released.

He needs some PR advice, maybe Max Clifford?

 

[Mattywerewolf]

For most people the reality of being imprisoned is that when you come out it is a damn sight harder to get a job because you've been behind bars. Not so for Ched Evans.

The bottom line for me is that he should be allowed to resume his trade as a professional footballer if there is a club willing to offer him a contract. Both parties know what they are getting themselves into.

He's served his time under the rule of law. People may feel his sentence wasn't long enough, but that's a separate issue. Would they feel better if he got 10 years and came out after 5 only to play again? Maybe they would. For his sake I hope he goes out of his way to embrace the community work of his future club.

I also hope opposition fans show some restraint. "Daddy, what's a rapist?" is not a conversation you want to be having with your kids on your day off.

100% agree. Clubs will not be allowed to openly refuse him work on the basis of most of the arguments on the thread, although many will look past him.