FairwayDodger
Money List Winner
Likewise Martin, an emotive and divisive subject.
Second Chances
- Thread starter bladeplayer
- Start date
Likewise Martin, an emotive and divisive subject.
Wildrover
Tour Rookie
For what it's worth imho convicted criminals should be allowed to resume their career on release/parole as long as it wasn't a work related crime.
In Evans' case I believe he should be allowed to resume playing as he has served his time in prison and is now out on licence, the length of time served is irrelevant as it has nothing to do with him, that's down to the Judge who presided over the case and our criminal justice system.
The fact he still maintains his innocence is irrelevant to resuming his career, if he were a road sweeper nobody would care. The easiest thing for him would have been to admit guilt whilst in prison, he would have been out earlier probably and already playing somewhere.
I do not buy into the "footballers are role models" argument either. Lee Hughes, Luke McCormack and Marlon King to name 3 were allowed to play again so are we saying to kids "it's ok to drink drive and kill people or assault someone, just don't be a rapist". Notwithstanding those 3 I wouldn't want my kids using most footballers as a role model, John Terry, Ryan Giggs, Mario Balotelli, Tony Adams, Paul Merson, Rio Ferdinand all not exactly great role models.
In Evans' case I believe he should be allowed to resume playing as he has served his time in prison and is now out on licence, the length of time served is irrelevant as it has nothing to do with him, that's down to the Judge who presided over the case and our criminal justice system.
The fact he still maintains his innocence is irrelevant to resuming his career, if he were a road sweeper nobody would care. The easiest thing for him would have been to admit guilt whilst in prison, he would have been out earlier probably and already playing somewhere.
I do not buy into the "footballers are role models" argument either. Lee Hughes, Luke McCormack and Marlon King to name 3 were allowed to play again so are we saying to kids "it's ok to drink drive and kill people or assault someone, just don't be a rapist". Notwithstanding those 3 I wouldn't want my kids using most footballers as a role model, John Terry, Ryan Giggs, Mario Balotelli, Tony Adams, Paul Merson, Rio Ferdinand all not exactly great role models.
SocketRocket
Ryder Cup Winner
What if it had been a Doctor, should he be allowed to return to work, what about a High Court Judge? What if the Road Sweeper had sexually assaulted a child?
ger147
Tour Winner
Not as simple as that. I'm sure you would be none too chuffed if you found out your kid's school teacher was a paedo but was allowed back to work after getting out of prison as he didn't abuse any of the kids at his previous school.
Val
Ryder Cup Winner
Did anyone see question time last night? If so any views on the female MP who suggested Evans shouldn't have been convicted after she read details of the case in depth?
lobthewedge
Challenge Tour Pro
Not sure she was an MP, think she is a journalist.
Either way, agreed with pretty much everything she said, as did a large portion of the audience who applauded her.
Val
Ryder Cup Winner
If the person who has committed the crime isn't going to be in a position to do it again through their job then I see no reason to stop it. If a teacher does something with children then they can't go back to school. But a footy stadium isn't likely to be full of drunken women and a road sweep is hardly likely to come across too many either.
User20205
Money List Winner
No I'm sure it's not. However the only 'facts' are his conviction and lack of rehabilitation. The rest is supposition, opinion and heresay.
How's the victim gonna feel with 30 k people (ok it's Oldham 2k people) chanting super ched?
He also suffers unfortunately because of the behaviour of his supporters.
I had similar thoughts to this. IN genreal convo when this comes up in the pub, it's been pretty much men saying whilst he may be guilty, plenty of us had got hammered and not remembered it fully. Where as all the women assume his guilt. When it came to a jury, not sure of the split for men and women. I'd imagine though that mesons views were more easily swayed to guilt than innocence.
User20205
Money List Winner
He is being penalised because it's high profile. It's maybe not fair but it's understandable. It's not the potential for reoffence, it's the message it sends out. Football should clean house, no club should employ players convicted of serious, violent crime. There not just sporting businesses, they're supposed to represent the communities they exist in.
Wildrover
Tour Rookie
Ger147 & Socketrocket
"As long as it isn't a work related crime" is what I said.
A doctor abusing his position or a paedo teacher clearly fall into the work related category.
I see no reason why a roadsweeper with a conviction for child abuse could not resume sweeping the roads on completion of their sentence.
"As long as it isn't a work related crime" is what I said.
A doctor abusing his position or a paedo teacher clearly fall into the work related category.
I see no reason why a roadsweeper with a conviction for child abuse could not resume sweeping the roads on completion of their sentence.
i think that's a very novel and noble idea. When we're footballers last role models? The 80's when they'd be off down the pub after a game? It's a business and in all business some people make a mistake. I don't see why people expect them to be role models just because of their wages.
I think jealousy is a more likely cause for people's rage against him. If he were a bricky or road sweep he'd probably be back at work. Or if it was messi or Ronald's clubs would say sod it and play them anyway.
How many of us in our tough did silly things whilst drunk, I'm not condoning rape. But on my estate most of us would of had asbos had they existed 15 years ago. Young lads from estates that make it to the big time can't have it trained out of them.
Paul_Stewart
Tour Rookie
I did a piece on American radio on this subject. Although the comments about being able to resume any other profession are valid, footballers are more in the public limelight by the very nature of their job and are hence, rightly or wrongly, held to a higher standard. It is the same for any other major sport. The Adrian Peterson and Ray Rice cases in the NFL have had the added implications of the league acting as judge, jury and executioner outside of the due legal process.
My own view is that once you have paid the time, you should be able to resume your life and career. But the very nature of the career involved has made this impossible.
My own view is that once you have paid the time, you should be able to resume your life and career. But the very nature of the career involved has made this impossible.
One Planer
Global Moderator
Speaking on this specific point...... Didn't stop Michael Vick coming back to the NFL.
While I agree........
Joey Barton (Common Assault)
Tony Adams (Drink Driving)
Lee Hughes (Death by Dangerous Driving)
Marlon King... Twice (Dangerous Driving, Sexual assault)
Luke McCormick (Death by Dangerous Driving)
I believe I'm right in thinking most of the above have come back to the game after serving their time?
I'm happy to be corrected if not :thup:
User20205
Money List Winner
See Paul's comments. Players aren't role models, but the sport should have standards and self police. Every time football, the FA, the premier league, the PFA etc etc are faced with a choice on these lines they seem to choose poorly.
User20205
Money List Winner
Sounds about right. It's off topic but the fact marlon king, lee Hughes and the fella from Plymouth were welcomed back into the football family demonstrates in microcosm what is wrong with football.
D
Deleted member 16999
Guest
Not condoning any of the above, bit they did accept responsibility, until he either clears his name or accepts responsibility and goes through rehabilitation, find another career.
It was his job that gave him the money and the profile to get in this situation and before he got involved in this he had no issues using his fame and wealth,
There are thousands of decent footballers who haven't put themselves in these situations.
But from a legal stand point, what can the fa do? Much like when people blame the England teams failings at world cups and say we have to limit "ruddy foreigners". I'd imagine banning the, for a criminal record (crime irrelevant) would be against their human rights.
FairwayDodger
Money List Winner
The could do exactly what professional bodies like CIMA or the Law Society etc would do.
News reports today suggest they are considering implementing just such a system.
