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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to be very pleased that Sheffield Utd have recognised that the rapist Ched Evans is toxic

260 replies

WeirdCatLady · 15/11/2014 17:20

Very good news.

Good to see some sense being shown (finally).

The rapist Ched Evans will not be signed by Sheffield United because of the 'toxic' reaction to their (stupid) plan.

OP posts:
nippiesweetie · 15/11/2014 23:45

I wonder if the future FIL's businesses are suffering? I hope that a reputable journalist is even now writing a full account of this case, including the disgraceful pillorying of the victim.

I would in particular like to see the original police statements made by the accused. Lots of people have said that Evens condemned himself by his own account, but I can't seem to find any court record online apart from the Court of Appeal ruling.

Jux · 16/11/2014 00:06

I think he'd be very well suited to working in the sewers. He'd earn enough to live on. I hope he considers an application to his local sewage works seriously and works out the last half of his sentence in a nice cosy tunnel. And maybe stays there.

Football used to just be boring. Now it's pretty disgusting.

mymummademelistentoshitmusic · 16/11/2014 00:27

Jux there was (very interesting and informative) program on about water/sewer workers. They were lovely hard working guys. I wouldn't inflict a rapist that still is so clueless that he thinks normal society will accept that on the general public.

TheAlias · 16/11/2014 09:41

No, he doesn't think he needs to apologise but if he ever wants to play football again he will need decent advisors who will make it clear to him that he will at least have to appear remorseful. What will probably happen is a lower league team abroad won't believe their luck at how cheaply they can sign him.

klog · 16/11/2014 09:43

So it's the reaction that's toxic??

teawamutu · 16/11/2014 09:53

I am absolutely OK with him not being able to slot straight back into his former, lucrative job. Show me one other well-paid, prestigious profession where a convicted and unrepentant rapist can walk straight back into a job worth thousands per week.

I agree he should be able to earn a living, and IF he can find someone prepared to take him on, for min wage, in a job where he's supervised and not a danger to women - fair enough.

But I am delighted that all the rapey little inadequates singing their support for him see that his actions have consequences, even if they don't have the intelligence or moral compass to perceive it as WRONG.

teawamutu · 16/11/2014 09:56

Actually, it just occurred to me that SU making the decision on commercial grounds isn't entirely a bad thing.

Yes they've been craven, cowardly and have a balance sheet instead of a conscience - but it has proved that employing someone like this will cost them money. It's seen as bad enough by society in general that they can't risk it.

In a sport driven purely by profit - depressing as this is, it's an encouraging sign. Sort of.

skylark2 · 16/11/2014 10:01

I'm very glad they have decided not to re-sign him. I hope every other pro team makes the same decision.

I do wonder whether there are legal issues to what they are allowed to say. "We're not re-signing him because it's not in our commercial interests to do so" is the sort of decision they make for every contract. "We're not re-signing him because he's a previous offender" - are they allowed to do that, if the role isn't one covered by the sex offenders act? They are not a big wealthy team and would want to avoid a court case if possible over unfair discrimination.

SevenZarkSeven · 16/11/2014 10:01

Won't he just give it a few months and then go and start with a different club? And if / when that happens i doubt there will be anywhere near the same level of outcry.

That's my guess anyway.

SevenZarkSeven · 16/11/2014 10:02

I do wonder though, with his money and his FIL money how have they not hired an excellent team of PR for him?

SevenZarkSeven · 16/11/2014 10:03

I mean they must all be really stupid.

Anyone famous getting bad press hires people to minimise it don't they - CE and his lot seem to just go from bad to worse.

teawamutu · 16/11/2014 10:07

SevenZarkSeven, I can only assume the people around him are wealthy, but just slightly less dumb-stupid than he is. They can't present themselves as anything other than insensitive, amoral and unpleasant, so they're not going to be able to do much better for him.

Maybe a vital component of being that vile is that you think everyone actually agrees with you, so no PR needed?

ChelsyHandy · 16/11/2014 10:12

teawamutu Actually, it just occurred to me that SU making the decision on commercial grounds isn't entirely a bad thing. Yes they've been craven, cowardly and have a balance sheet instead of a conscience - but it has proved that employing someone like this will cost them money. It's seen as bad enough by society in general that they can't risk it.

I think so as well. Its taken the control out of their hands and forced them to wake up to economic and business reality. Which they obviously aren't capable of doing themselves. Its shown up their flaws to the whole country.

I can't help thinking that football right now seems to be a repository for a bunch of sociopaths who keep getting things wrong, in the way that sociopaths do, and that society has this time stepped into the breach to impose some order upon the rabble.

I feel sorry for any decent, skilled footballer trying to earn a living in this atmosphere. Maybe it also explains lack of international results for the national team to some extent, despite all the money flying about?

As for Evans, why the hell doesn't he just go abroad, keep his head down, actually do some work and get some results - is he scared to do something on his own, without his mates and his girlfriend's family around him? Pretty soon, he's going to be a washed up former footballer in his thirties with a rape conviction...time is running out for any "talent" he might have had.

skylark2 · 16/11/2014 10:14

"Maybe a vital component of being that vile is that you think everyone actually agrees with you, so no PR needed?"

I think that's true in general. Nobody thinks they're the bad guy.

(is having quiet hysterics at SevenZarkSeven's username).

SevenZarkSeven · 16/11/2014 10:38

Grin skylark

It shows which generation I am doesn't it Grin

londonrach · 16/11/2014 10:39

Best news today.

TheAlias · 16/11/2014 11:21

I have no idea who his fiancé or his FIL are but if you were that young woman's father would you be spending your cash to help CE?

I doubt very much whether CE is wealthy in his own right. He will have earned well as a footballer but nothing like the figures people think of for top footballers and what he didn't spend on his "lifestyle" before he was arrested will have been spent on legal fees.

I do think it's a mystery that he hasn't been better coached re the PR though.

SmilesandPilesOfPresents · 16/11/2014 11:27

I think it's because too many sponsors and and patrons have threatened to walk if he came back.

It's won't be public pressure but a financial one that made them change their relunctant minds. They'd have had him back if it wasn't for the scale of the reaction. No business or club realy gives a toss about what the fans think, it's all down to money and sponsors.

Neverbuyheliumbalonz · 16/11/2014 12:02

I do wonder whether there are legal issues to what they are allowed to say. "We're not re-signing him because it's not in our commercial interests to do so" is the sort of decision they make for every contract. "We're not re-signing him because he's a previous offender" - are they allowed to do that, if the role isn't one covered by the sex offenders act? They are not a big wealthy team and would want to avoid a court case if possible over unfair discrimination.

No, I'm pretty sure that SU are not under any obligation to re-sign Ched Evans. They could say 'fuck off Ched' and it wouldn't be unfair discrimination - he is a convicted criminal. It is commercial interests plain and simple, but as others have said, the fact that there are these commercial pressures shows that actually society does give a hint of a shit, which can only be a good thing? Even if SU itself is largely a bit of a decency vacuum (save for a few people sticking their necks out and speaking about it).

ChelsyHandy · 16/11/2014 14:11

TheAlias I have no idea who his fiancé or his FIL are but if you were that young woman's father would you be spending your cash to help CE?

On the make...I mean he wants to have a daughter who goes out with a footballer, and doesn't want to admit that their choice of man is awful. She might not find another footballer boyfriend, he has probably made his money doing all sorts of dodgy deals (he doesn't look the conventional boardroom type) so CE's behaviour is nothing he hasn't seen before and possibly seems quite normal to him. Quite logical when you think about it. I mean, never likely to succeed, but I can see their flawed thought processes at work.

MissPenelopeLumawoo2 · 16/11/2014 14:28

I am quite uncomfortable with the idea being bandied around that he should go off and play abroad for some years and then return to see how it goes here. I think that is very unfair on the unsuspecting female population of wherever he might end up. At least over here most people know what he has done, if he goes abroad then people may not know and that would potentially put women at risk.

I am glad he won't be back in his old job though, but I expect some small team will eventually sign him for peanuts.

Neverbuyheliumbalonz · 16/11/2014 14:40

Sheffield United's co-chairman Jim Phipps has been on twitter complaining that sponsors have been 'bullied' and that its 'lamentable'. What the fucking fuck?

So it's seemingly ok to bully a rape victim into witness fucking protection, and make no acknowledgment or apology for this when it is done directly on your behalf, but not ok to put pressure on football sponsors not to endorse a team which has signed a rapist?

What the..? How can you......? Why would.....? I'm sorry I just can't understand the thinking of these people.

Looking at Jim Phipps twitter feed it is very obvious actually that SU and heir supporters are basically pissed off that these pesky people making a fuss about a rapist are taking their concentration away from what really matters - which of course getting promoted to the Premiership.

SmilesandPilesOfPresents · 16/11/2014 14:42

Told you!

Sponsors threatening to walk.

I knew it would have been down to money.

chaya5738 · 16/11/2014 14:43

SU just put out a statement on that - they meant that the sponsors etc had been bullied for their views on the rapist Ched Evans and that that was unacceptable. (so the opposite of what you inferred)

chaya5738 · 16/11/2014 14:44

Would he actually been allowed a visa to play abroad? He wouldn't be allowed in the US.