to think the decision made by Oldham Athletic today is the proof that professional football in this country lacks any moral integrity whatsoever?

[LuluJakey1]

www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/ched-evans-to-oldham-athletic-family-will-pay-up-to-pave-the-way-for-deal-with-league-one-club-9961432.html

1. Morally, what they are doing is disgusting. They are completely disrespecting women sexually assaulted and raped by men in giving this man a job where he will be a role- model, hero-worshipped and idolised by thousands of people; young men and boys in particular. The message here is the crime of rape is easily dismissed by a short spell in prison and then you can go back and do whatever you like. In many jobs where a person has committed a sexual assault or rape, they are not ever allowed to work in a position again where they have contact with young or vulnerable people. Why is Ched Evans different?
2. His fiance must feel humiliated. He has not denied his behaviour at all- his denial is that it constituted rape. He has disrespected and humiliated her by tomming around with other women, doing deals with his friends to pick up vulnerable women, share them for sex and video each other doing that. Instead of having some self respect and dumping him, she has humiliated herself further by 'standing by her man' as he disrespects his victim even more by refusing to apologise . Now her own father is humiliating her even further by bankrolling the moron so a football club will take the risk of employing him. Eh? WTF?
3. It is beyond my comprehension that her father has no respect for his daughter and is rewarding the man who has treated her so badly, and also encouraging her in a relationsip with a man who sexually assaults or rapes women. It says a great deal about the kind of family she has grown up in - women are clearly treated like second class citizens and the possessions of men. I think she is stupid but feel very sorry for her.
4. Will he be accepted at other football grounds as a player? I expect so- none of them would have the guts to say he is unacceptable to them and take the consequences of standing up for what is right.
5. Will he be cheered at Oldham? I expect so- few fans will be prepared to make a stand against the club. The culture of football in England is such that moral standards are low in the professional game.

It will all end in tears- I have no doubt.

I do hope Oldham will come to understand how appalling their actions are.

I think today is the day I am fully convinced that professional football has no moral integrity whatsoever.

Well quite House. She talks also about the pitfalls of having so much money so young and having women throw themselves at them. Which is fine, up to a point. She sort of misses the point about not raping those women.

He did not say why he thought the previous two refusals to grant leave to appeal were wrong, nor on what grounds an appeal might be granted, let alone won (and it's the absence of that bit that makes the position unpersuasive).

That's because be has no idea of the legal situation, but just hates to see a promising young rapeyball players career cut short because of a stupid woman. I mean, who wouldn't do what Chedders did? Red blooded rapeyballist, young blood, sowing wild oats, she was probably begging him, just common sense, they're all liars anyway.

to be fair also Emma Hayes (for it is she) does talk a bit about what CE and the PFA should have done to help alleviate this situation re remorse, victim-awareness etc but she prob represents quite a swathe of opinion in 'the game'.

I do not think Oldham should have been in the position to offer him a contract, nor any other club.

A professional footballer as a normal part of his contract will take part in Football in the Community activities. This will include visiting schools for coaching sessions and meeting the children, often visiting sick children in hospitals, and meeting children or adults with disabilities. They will meet and often walk onto the pitch with mascots, who are usually of junior school age.

So the basis for judging whether or not a criminal conviction means a person cannot play professional football, or act in a coaching capacity, for me should be the same as for a teacher, teaching assistant, or someone who works in social care. No-one with a conviction that places them on the sex offenders' register, such as for rape, would be allowed any of those jobs, so on that basis neither should they be a professional footballer.

The FA should act and if not the government should legislate. Moral pressure or that from sponsors may have forced Oldham and Sheffield United into a change of mind, but it should not have been an option in the first place.

sure House - she was clumsily linking this case with other circs.

The FA have been devoid of showing any leadership, more shame them.

You forget to mention the extreme measures the police are forced to take every time matches are played to prevent civil disturbance between opposing sets of supporters who cannot sit beside each other safely.

It's a toxic culture in that sport. Rotten from root to tip.

This rather has shown up the problems in football, hasn't it? And how many other players with convictions really should be off the pitches too.

I caught something on the news yesterday saying the FA had not commented because it had no formal role in the potential signings (what a load of bollocks - neither do the PM, deputy PM, leader of opposition, or head of Greater Manchester police but they all managed it) but that it will be reviewing its guidance.

Depending on what they come up with, the latter could be a very a very welcome thing.

My suggestion is for a nice clear rule that anyone convicted of a crime which carries a custodial sentence should be barred from professional football. There could be a right to a hearing to have the bar overturned, but the threshold for exceptional circumstances would bpneed to be very high or else the bar would be worthless (and that's exactly the sort of spineless situation I think, after this, everyine wants ended).

I'd disagree massively with the root to tip thing? 'The game' has moved on greatly in recent years - prob a lot to do with the middle-classisation of it, more women going to games and playing it, more back players and overseas players than ever before, Sian Massey as the first woman official, Eleanor Oldroyd ( I think) as the first woman commentator on a Premiership game etc - we still need more black managers, Asian-heritage players and it easier for gay footie players to come out. But it isn't all grim.

Some of the game 'administrators' and club boards need to take stock of how far they are out of touch with the rest of the footie population and the GBP.

As a MUFC fan and remembering the days when Steve Bruce headed in to bring the title back to Old Trafford for the first time in (26?) years, I'd just wish he'd have said nothing at all. As advice he's probably dished out to young players over the years "Just stick to the football, son."

The FA should exclude anyone who gets a custodial sentence (immediate or suspended) - with a possibility of return later depending on conduct. Not anyone convicted of a crime which could in theory carry a custodial sentence, that's too wide. With one exception - any conviction for a crime of violence, sexual or otherwise, should exclude the player.

I don't think they can make it retrospective. Some people were allowed back and should not have been but that's past wishing for. Which means, alas, that they cannot apply this to RCE - but I don't see any club looking at him now.

When his licence expires, if he is not past it, he will be free to travel and he might find work abroad. Not our problem.

Impressive post House! imo

We still have podium girls in proing in tight dresses and heels, though in one tour last year the women were dressed in biking gear and shoes for the first time. Not a seismic shift, but moving in the fair way...

When Peter Sagan, a pro biker pinched the bottom of a podium girl a couple of years ago there was a venomous reaction. Albeit quite a mixed message situation.

House You can sanction players and other participants but there's not much you can do about a crowd booing, is there?

You can make it 'retrospective' in the sense that anyone no longer qualifying under the new rules cannot continue. This happened in many lines of work when CRB checks were first rolled out, so oodles of precedent (and aren't the CE supporters calling for football to be just like everyone else?)

As custodial sentences are only available for the more serious crimes, I'm not sure why excluding some would make much practical difference, and would undercut the main message of kicking criminals off the pitch.