Ched Evans' release from Prison after serving half of a 5 year sentence for a rape conviction has polarised opinion. The Welsh international footballer had been reported to have been on the verge of rejoining Sheffield United, the club who employed him prior to his conviction. For their part, United have suggested they have not yet come to a final decision on the matter.
Ultimately Ched Evans not returning to football could mean he is at some point a burden to the UK benefits system. That is not to say that I would welcome Evans playing for my team, had he been good enough. Any football club who decides to employ this man or any other man convicted of a most heinous crime, is taking a massive risk with their very brand! These points highlight a big dilemma for football.
One side issue in the Ched Evans case is that the man still intends to appeal against his conviction, despite his release from prison. It is important to remember that the right for anyone to appeal a criminal conviction is sacrosanct. Sometimes convictions do get quashed on appeal. But we must also deal with the here and now. As it stands, Evans has been convicted by a jury.
When I think back to other footballers in recent times who have fallen foul of the law, the cases of Luke McCormick and Lee Hughes both saw remorse expressed by the offender (to the best of my knowledge). McCormick had been sentenced to over 7 years imprisonment for causing death by drink driving, whilst Hughes caused death by dangerous driving and got sentenced to 6 years imprisonment. In the case of Evans, no expression of remorse has been made, I assume due to his plans to appeal his conviction.
Wigan Athletic Chairman Dave Whelan has made noises about the importance of the great game not employing criminals. Although Mr Whelan and his club did indeed sack Marlon King in 2009 following a conviction for sexual assault, what I find a little bizarre is that King already had criminal convictions against his name when he joined Wigan in 2008. Indeed, King had already in fact served a previous jail sentence!
I would personally favour the introduction of a system whereby a convicted footballer cannot in theory play football professionally again until their prison sentence term has expired, irrespective of whether or not the person is released early. This is similar to the line taken by the International Paralympic Committee over Oscar Pistorius, following his recent culpible homicide conviction.
I would permit any professional footballer convicted of a crime the opportunity to engage with the FA upon release, with a view towards being allowed back into the professional game before the end of their original jail term in certain circumstances. But I would only consider this to be desirable if the FA are satisfied that rehabilitation has been achieved. Factors which I believe should be taken into consideration include a demonstration of commitment to the community and/or grassroots football, and remorse for their actions.
I believe that a system of this nature would send a message to any professsional footballer that if you break the law and go to prison, then you cannot just walk back to where you left off upon release. Of course in this case "where you left off" is being in a very privileged position, in which you should be considered a role model to younger people.
With the professional ban upon release not applying to amateur football, the offender can still play organised football. This subsequently gives offenders the opportunity to give something to grassroots football and the community, which in turn can help them build a case to the FA that their lives have been turned around, and that they can once again be a positive influence on the professsional game.
Ultimately Ched Evans not returning to football could mean he is at some point a burden to the UK benefits system. That is not to say that I would welcome Evans playing for my team, had he been good enough. Any football club who decides to employ this man or any other man convicted of a most heinous crime, is taking a massive risk with their very brand! These points highlight a big dilemma for football.
One side issue in the Ched Evans case is that the man still intends to appeal against his conviction, despite his release from prison. It is important to remember that the right for anyone to appeal a criminal conviction is sacrosanct. Sometimes convictions do get quashed on appeal. But we must also deal with the here and now. As it stands, Evans has been convicted by a jury.
When I think back to other footballers in recent times who have fallen foul of the law, the cases of Luke McCormick and Lee Hughes both saw remorse expressed by the offender (to the best of my knowledge). McCormick had been sentenced to over 7 years imprisonment for causing death by drink driving, whilst Hughes caused death by dangerous driving and got sentenced to 6 years imprisonment. In the case of Evans, no expression of remorse has been made, I assume due to his plans to appeal his conviction.
Wigan Athletic Chairman Dave Whelan has made noises about the importance of the great game not employing criminals. Although Mr Whelan and his club did indeed sack Marlon King in 2009 following a conviction for sexual assault, what I find a little bizarre is that King already had criminal convictions against his name when he joined Wigan in 2008. Indeed, King had already in fact served a previous jail sentence!
I would personally favour the introduction of a system whereby a convicted footballer cannot in theory play football professionally again until their prison sentence term has expired, irrespective of whether or not the person is released early. This is similar to the line taken by the International Paralympic Committee over Oscar Pistorius, following his recent culpible homicide conviction.
I would permit any professional footballer convicted of a crime the opportunity to engage with the FA upon release, with a view towards being allowed back into the professional game before the end of their original jail term in certain circumstances. But I would only consider this to be desirable if the FA are satisfied that rehabilitation has been achieved. Factors which I believe should be taken into consideration include a demonstration of commitment to the community and/or grassroots football, and remorse for their actions.
I believe that a system of this nature would send a message to any professsional footballer that if you break the law and go to prison, then you cannot just walk back to where you left off upon release. Of course in this case "where you left off" is being in a very privileged position, in which you should be considered a role model to younger people.
With the professional ban upon release not applying to amateur football, the offender can still play organised football. This subsequently gives offenders the opportunity to give something to grassroots football and the community, which in turn can help them build a case to the FA that their lives have been turned around, and that they can once again be a positive influence on the professsional game.
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