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Ched Evans rape reactions a reminder that moral boundaries are movable Ched Evans rape reactions a reminder that moral boundaries can shift
(about 3 hours later)
Planet Football can often feel like it inhabits a parallel moral universe. All the more so in the perpetually angry, always-on, Twitter-fuelled, phone-in frenzied, blindly partisan digital age. It is one in which some fans will loudly hail their club captain in the middle of a storm over horrifically racist language they would never tolerate in their own house. Or in which loyalty to their star striker causes them to lash out at anyone who exhibits anything other than blind faith. Planet Football can often appear to inhabit a parallel moral universe – all the more so in the perpetually angry, always-on, Twitter-fuelled, phone-in frenzied, blindly partisan digital age. It is one in which some fans will loudly hail their club captain in the middle of a storm over horrifically racist language they would never tolerate in their own house; or in which loyalty to their star striker causes them to lash out at anyone who exhibits anything other than blind faith.
Or, as in the case of one Sheffield United supporter on a BBC radio phone-in earlier this week, one in which a mother would have no problem with her 15-year-old son sporting a replica kit bearing the name of a convicted rapist who had just been released from prison.Or, as in the case of one Sheffield United supporter on a BBC radio phone-in earlier this week, one in which a mother would have no problem with her 15-year-old son sporting a replica kit bearing the name of a convicted rapist who had just been released from prison.
The imminent release of Ched Evans from Wymott Prison, after serving half of a five-year sentence for raping a 19-year old after a night out, has forced football – and those who orbit it – back into a moral maze.The imminent release of Ched Evans from Wymott Prison, after serving half of a five-year sentence for raping a 19-year old after a night out, has forced football – and those who orbit it – back into a moral maze.
It is a debate that has already gone way beyond the game. Judy Finnigan has been forced to apologise after intimating that Evans’s crime was somehow mitigated by the fact it didn’t involve violence and the victim was drunk. It is a debate that has already gone way beyond the game. Judy Finnigan has been forced to apologise after intimating that Evans’s crime was somehow mitigated by the fact it did not involve violence and the victim was drunk.
More than 145,000 people have now signed a petition demanding Sheffield United do not re-employ Evans. The charity Rape Crisis England & Wales has declared that barring him from football would “send out a strong message condemning sexual violence against women”.More than 145,000 people have now signed a petition demanding Sheffield United do not re-employ Evans. The charity Rape Crisis England & Wales has declared that barring him from football would “send out a strong message condemning sexual violence against women”.
Shadow sports minister Clive Efford told the Guardian: “There are lots of professions that you would be barred from taking part in if you had committed rape. Football should be one of them.” The shadow sports minister, Clive Efford, told the Guardian: “There are lots of professions that you would be barred from taking part in if you had committed rape. Football should be one of them.”
But there are also plenty of people, not all of them as stupid as the woman who would rush out to buy a Blades shirt bearing his name, who believe that having served his time Evans should be free to resume his career. That by forcing Evans out of football you are depriving him of the chance to contribute to society. But there are also plenty of people, not all of them as stupid as the woman who would rush out to buy a Blades shirt bearing his name, who believe that Evans, having served his time, should be free to resume his career; that by forcing him out of football you are depriving him of the chance to contribute to society.
“I didn’t know there was a law that said once you come out of prison you still can’t do anything,” the Professional Footballers’ Association’s chairman, Gordon Taylor, has said. “As a trade union we believe in the rule of law … besides that, he still wants to contribute to society. If he earns money he’ll pay taxes, those taxes will go to help people who maybe can’t get a job.” “It is a fundamental part of the justice process that a person serves his or her sentence and then is entitled to be released and continue with their life,” the Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive, Gordon Taylor, told the Guardian. “These issues can provoke strong feelings but there must be some recognition that, if a justice system deems that a person has served their punishment, it’s appropriate to return to the community. No one is saying this is washed away.”
Sheffield United, who once paid £3m for the Welsh international, are considering re-signing him. He was never sacked after being found guilty of rape with the club preferring instead just to let his contract to run out. Sheffield United, who once paid £3m for the Wales international, are considering re-signing him. He was never sacked after being found guilty of rape, with the club preferring just to let his contract run out.
But if it is OK to welcome a convicted, seemingly unrepentant rapist back into the game then where do you draw the line? Do you draw one at all? But if it is OK to welcome a convicted, seemingly unrepentant rapist back into the game, then where do you draw the line? Do you draw one at all?
In July, Plymouth Argyle made goalkeeper Luke McCormick their club captain despite the fact he had spent time in prison after killing two young brothers in a car crash on the M6 after falling asleep at the wheel while over the drink drive limit. In July Plymouth Argyle made the goalkeeper Luke McCormick their club captain despite the fact he had spent time in prison after killing two young brothers in a car crash on the M6 after falling asleep at the wheel while over the drink-drive limit.
Former West Bromwich Albion striker Lee Hughes joined Oldham Athletic in 2007 after serving half of his six-year sentence for causing death by dangerous driving. The former West Bromwich Albion striker Lee Hughes joined Oldham in 2007 after serving half of his six-year sentence for causing death by dangerous driving.
Oldham director Barry Owen this week told the BBC that they tested the water with fans before signing him: “He was very remorseful. We put it out in the press that we had interest so we could gauge the fans’ reaction. The majority of them were OK with it.” Barry Owen, an Oldham director, told the BBC this week that they tested the water with fans before signing him: “He was very remorseful. We put it out in the press that we had interest so we could gauge the fans’ reaction. The majority of them were OK with it.”
Surely basing such a decision on how it will go down with fans is the worst test of all. And that feels very close to what Sheffield United are doing on this occasion in allowing manager Nigel Clough to make it known that the club’s owners are considering the matter. Surely basing such a decision on how it will go down with fans is the worst test of all. And that seems very close to what Sheffield United are doing on this occasion in allowing the manager, Nigel Clough, to make it known that the club’s owners are considering the matter.
It is perfectly possible to believe that footballers shouldn’t be held up as role models but to accept that for many children they are. The same goes for musicians and film stars. It is perfectly possible to believe that footballers should not be held up as role models but to accept that for many children they are. The same goes for musicians and film stars.
So sport can’t simply opt out. Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg rightly pointed out that while Evans had served his time Sheffield United couldn’t “wish away” his offence. So sport cannot simply opt out. The deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, rightly pointed out that, while Evans had served his time, Sheffield United could not “wish away” his offence. “I really do think that footballers these days, they are major public figures who have a public responsibility to set an example for other people,” he said.
“I really do think that footballers these days, they are major public figures who have a public responsibility to set an example for other people.” It is an issue that goes beyond football. Almost simultaneously, tThe NFL has been tying itself in knots over the Ray Rice case and domestic violence.
It is an issue that goes beyond football. Almost simultaneously, the NFL has been tying itself up in knots over the Ray Rice case and domestic violence. And in Pretoria Judge Thokozile Masipa will next week sentence Oscar Pistorius after finding him guilty of culpable homicide for shooting his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp dead.
And in Pretoria, Judge Thokozile Masipa will next week sentence Oscar Pistorius after finding him guilty of culpable homicide for shooting his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp dead. Ultimately athletes are paid for what they do on the pitch. But that does not mean they should be exempt from scrutiny off it.
Ultimately, athletes are paid for what they do on the pitch. But that does not mean they should be exempt from scrutiny off it.
“My view is that he has got to come out and show remorse and take responsibility as a professional footballer,” says Richard Caborn, the former sports minister and a Sheffield United fan. “Footballers have got a special role as far as young people are concerned. He’s got to make his remorse absolutely clear. If he does that, he deserves another chance.”“My view is that he has got to come out and show remorse and take responsibility as a professional footballer,” says Richard Caborn, the former sports minister and a Sheffield United fan. “Footballers have got a special role as far as young people are concerned. He’s got to make his remorse absolutely clear. If he does that, he deserves another chance.”
There appears little chance of that. Evans continues to protest his innocence and is taking his case to the Criminal Cases Review Commission after being refused leave to appeal. The heightened profile of her attacker also had consequences for his teenage victim, who became the subject of an ongoing hate campaign and was forced to move away from her hometown after her name was made public on Twitter. Amid all the discussion of the fate of Evans it is that of his victim that should be uppermost in the minds of those deciding his future. There appears little chance of that. Evans continues to protest his innocence and is taking his case to the Criminal Cases Review Commission after being refused leave to appeal. The heightened profile of her attacker also had consequences for his teenage victim, who became the subject of an ongoing hate campaign and was forced to move away from her home town after her name was made public on Twitter. Amid all the discussion of the fate of Evans it is that of his victim that should be uppermost in the minds of those deciding his future.