05 Jan 2015 17:50:02
Afternoon chaps, just wanted to know everyone's feelings regarding Ched Evans and his return to football. I live about 5 minutes from Boundary Park, have done since getting married, and have been to Oldham home games quite a few times when United haven't been playing. Personally, I think what he did was an absolute disgrace, and for that he was rightly punished, in line with the laws of the land, although it think rapists should be castrated along with the prison sentence. That said, I don't think he should be stopped from returning to football.
He should be allowed back but there should be certain agreements in place when he does. It should include things like voluntary work to raise awareness and show kids how wrong what he did was, possibly undergo some kind of counselling, maybe agree to donate a decent percentage of his income to rape victim charities etc. He earns a lot more than most people who have been found guilty of rape and is a well known figure, so he could be used to do good for charities and try to help prevent youngsters from doing what he did in the future.
I just don't see why every sponsor of a club should jump ship or threaten to, along with countless petitions and random celebrities spouting off every time his name is linked to a club, forcing said club to end their interest. If he had done what he did to my daughter, then he would now be missing something he holds very dear, but I don't feel that myself, as someone who doesn't know either him or the victim, should have any right to say what he can or can't do, and that should go for anyone else not related to the case aswell, in my eyes. He has the right to work in his chosen profession having done the time for his crime, whether we think the length of time he did was enough or not.
Just interested to hear others views. So far of the people I have talked to about it, I would say it is 50/50 on whether he should be allowed or not.
He shows no remorse or acceptance of guilt so he's not going to be any use for charity work!
I'm torn on the issue tbh. He's done his crime & his time and should be allowed to get on with his life. But as long as he's in the public eye playing football that is possibly further damaging to his victim.
{Ed001's Note - he hasn't done his time though has he? He has done part of his time! Personally I don't think he should be allowed back, if I was a sponsor I would immediately remove my sponsorship from the club. There are some things that are just unforgivable.}
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Yes, I didn't realise he's still serving his time albeit on licence.
People do deserve a second chance and to be able to put things right but it's too big a gamble for a football club when it starts interfering with their income etc. It's also a bit of a non-starter if he cannot accept his guilt, but that won't be happening if he honestly believes himself to be innocent.
{Ed001's Note - sorry but a crime like rape is not one I feel anyone deserves a second chance after committing.}
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There are no easy solutions to aberrant behaviour. What is completely neglected in our society is the root cause of a great deal of crime, and any attempts to remedy social disease. Only the punishment is considered. It's dealing with the symptoms rather than the cause.
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I didn't realise he was serving the time on licence either. He needs to wait until he has paid his whole time then before being considered for a comeback. Obviously the acceptance of 100% guilt first should also go without saying.
Lee Hughes got a second chance after killing someone whilst drink driving. That is no better than rape as far as I am concerned, they are both deplorable acts. But if he was allowed, I don't see how Evans can't be, it has to be one rule for all and the precedence has been set.
{Ed001's Note - I wouldn't have had that prick Hughes back, or that goalkeeper either. Sports should be more than just about winning, there should be some real moral meaning to it or you lose the whole value of sportsmanship. Sadly I think there is no such thing left, just money.}
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Throwing another name into the mix Ed001 - Marlon King.
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