Cautionary tale about just how much a "false" rape allegation can affect lives

[QuentinSummers]

Ched Evans set to sign with his old club, Sheffield United.

m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39697804

Clearly the rape allegation has ruined his life. Career in tatters, reputation in shreds, no employer will touch him with a barge pole. Oh wait....

[QuentinSummers]

m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39697804

[AssassinatedBeauty]

Of course he is. What a wonderful world we live in.

[PippaFawcett]

I actually can't bear this. DH was consoling us both earlier by saying that at least he lost some of his best playing years as a result.

[FannyWisdom]

I thought he had lost form?

So is this an apologetic signing from SUFC?

[QuentinSummers]

Apologetic for what?
I reckon they were just waiting a suitable time in the hope they could sign him without an outcry. Am also furious.

[reallyanotherone]

I do think though footballers and/or celebrities are treated very differently to your average joe.

Your bog standard teacher or nurse will likely never work again.

But yes, for some reason rape is the one allegation people are more likely to disbelieve.

[AristotlesTrousers]

Oh this news has pissed me right off.

[FannyWisdom]

It's either apologetic or provocative.

He was a fairly good footballer, apparently (I'm basing this just on overheard I know nothing of sport) he's now a aging past it footballer.
Why would SUFC sign a once good, highly controversial rapist footballer?

Wonder if his fil has anything to do with it.

[Blueemeraldagain]

I'm not happy with Sheffield Wednesday's decision at all but he was found "not guilty".

That is the truly disgusting decision and my anger is reserved for the "justice" system.

[VestalVirgin]

Your bog standard teacher or nurse will likely never work again.

Possibly, but those are not average joe professions, they're ones where he'd be in charge of children.

I doubt a banker would be much affected.

Rapists who rape adult women can still work in jobs that give them access to adult women ... any job in which women work, that is.

At least a football player does not have power over female employees as a matter of course, and his teammates are male, but I seriously doubt that is their justification. I rather think they don't feel they need a justification.

[VestalVirgin]

That is the truly disgusting decision and my anger is reserved for the "justice" system.

I agree, but it is still interesting how happily a man who was accused of rape can continue his life when one considers how the "but his life will be ruined!" argument is brought up against accusing or convicting a man of rape.

[allegretto]

Pales in comparison to this one though:
www.google.it/amp/www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/14/outrage-brazil-football-club-signs-goalkeeper-ordered-murder/amp/

[Bejazzled]

similar
David Goodwillie is a rapist and was signed to continue playing in a lower league but still relatively well know team in Scotland. This poor girl went through hell, had to go public and bring a private prosecution iirc because the Procurators Fiscal didn't think there was enough evidence for a trial. She won the trial, lost just about everything else.

[PippaFawcett]

The worst thing about all of this is - and my understanding is that the victim didn't make a rape allegation she reported her purse/bag missing or something, is that I'm not sure I would want my DD going through what she has gone through since. I believe she has been hounded and now lives abroad. Fucking disgraceful.

[C0RA]

I agree, but it is still interesting how happily a man who was accused of rape can continue his life when one considers how the "but his life will be ruined!" argument is brought up against accusing or convicting a man of rape

You are forgetting that men have a great future ahead of them that will be ruined. Whereas women have a past that can be used against them.

[PippaFawcett]

Which I think this case rested on. Didn't they pay her former partners to give evidence at the appeal or something? Basically beware women, if you have consented to sex before you therefore can't be rapes

[PippaFawcett]

Raped

[Andrewofgg]

It's true enough that a teacher or male nurse tried and acquitted of rape - let alone convicted then acquitted on retrial - would probably be ruined.

What grinds my gears is that even if he is not guilty (and the verdict does not mean that, only that the jury were not sure beyond reasonable doubt) his conduct that night was beneath contempt. Not much of a role model, is he?

And while I can understand why his blood-family stand by him - your son is your son, your brother is your brother - how the hell his GF and her family can bear to have him around is beyond me.

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

I really don't understand the motivation. As someone else said I was told he was OK but not outstanding. There are plenty of better, younger, untarnished players.

[ThymeLord]

Maybe they can sign up that disgusting little specimen Adam Johnson when he gets out too. What a fucking world we live in.

[FannyWisdom]

I'm not cynical enough to believe they want to provoke outrage so I'm tipping his father in law overlord has somehow convinced United to make a gesture.

How long before Dame Ennis gets hauled through the mud again.
Ridiculous decision.

[StillHungryy]

I don't see why Ched evans gets so much attention when clubs employ players that have killed someone whilst driving drunk, somebody got a new team after being in prison for years for plotting to kill his "mistress" and fed her to the dog ( although that's in Portugal)

I also don't think celebrities/ those in the media etc follow the same rules to say false rape allegations don't ruin your life/ reputation, however whilst a not guilty verdict doesn't prove innocence, it has had a big impact on his life.

[StillHungryy]

And Jessica Ennis isn't affiliated with the club as much as she was, I believe they also have renamed the stand that was named after her not long after they tried resigning him

[DJBaggySmalls]

Gosh I hope if I ever face a serious charge I can rustle up 50 grand to 'help the witnesses remember' allegedly

[StillHungryy]

I did have a look at the football subreddit chat threads and there is a few conversations about Jessica Ennis halfway down, it gets a bad rep here as a site but the overwhelming majority are on her side:

https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/679od9/sheffutddagree500kkfeetoosigncheddevans_from/?st=J1WLDJLO&sh=277303c7