Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

Why the fucking fuck is that rapist Ched Evans being released anyway?

317 replies

AskBasil · 14/08/2014 18:22

I thought that in order to get parole, the minimum you had to do was admit that you are actually guilty of the crime for which you've been imprisoned?

But Evans the rapist hasn't admitted that he's a rapist. He keeps saying he's innocent.

So why is he being released?

Is this normal now?

Do all prisoners automatically get early release for good behaviour even if they keep saying they didn't actually do the crime, therefore proving that the one thing that used to be a necessity for early release - remorse - is definitely missing?

OP posts:
Dervel · 15/08/2014 10:40

Why is this footballer given the benefit of more doubt than the average convicted rapist?

Yet another good reason to take my little boy to women's football matches. The male game is riddled with corruption, mysogyny and frankly a bunch of men who in the main may be lovely chaps, but will allow cheats, adulterers, johns and rapists in their ranks unquestioned and STILL expect to be role models to the nations youth.

So what if the girl is mercenary? Ok it's not a desirable character trait, but doesn't mean it's suddenly ok to get raped.

We need to move away from classes of women amongst whom it is somehow ok to rape.

PetulaGordino · 15/08/2014 10:44

i agree with you on the rehabilitation eelisaveta and of course for someone to be refused any employment or housing would not be helpful

but as justtherightbullets has outlined above, his actions haven't demonstrated that he is suitable for such a high-profile role on release

MorrisZapp · 15/08/2014 11:08

Yes, the behaviour of the victim before, during and after the rape should not be relevant. She could be the biggest, crassest mercenary bitch on the planet but that does not make it legal to rape her.

You aren't allowed to rape anybody. The law protects us all, not just the worthy amongst us.

CaptChaos · 15/08/2014 11:54

If we held footballers to the same standard as teachers or barristers there wouldn't be many left. That includes club owners to members of FIFA.

Why would this be a problem? People in the public eye should at least adhere to basic codes of behaviour, especially when their sport's ruling body demands that they do!

The argument that 'another club will snap him up if the blades don't is ridiculous. It's almost like you're suggesting that the blades are doing everyone some kind of public service, which is bollocks.

wellnowthenmardybum · 15/08/2014 12:05

Sorry, haven't read full thread so don't know if it has been linked before but here is a petition to stop him playing for Sheffield www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/kevin-mccabe-chairman-of-sheffield-utd-football-club-refuse-to-reinstate-ched-evans-as-a-player-at-sheffield-united

HenriettaTurkey · 15/08/2014 12:17

I agree that post-offence people should be allowed to find employment. I also strongly agree that certain types of employment should be restricted. As has been mentioned, he wouldn't pass a crb check to become a teacher, as he shouldn't.

Something that doesn't appear to have been mentioned (apologies if it has) is the amount of youth work footballers do.

I work at a SEN school in Sheffield. It is quite usual for players/coaches etc from Sheff Utd/Wednesday to come in to school to meet the students, talk about their jobs, health, fitness etc. There is also a work experience scheme that a high proportion of the older students attend at the clubs. This is all really great for the students and players alike.

But if Ched Evans gets re-signed and is scheduled to appear at school, or have involvement with these very vulnerable students I know I won't be the only member of staff to protest very vigorously.

Please don't think I believe he is a threat to the students themselves: that's not what I'm saying. I also wouldn't want Suarez to be involved; but not because I'm worried he'd bite them. Footballers are huge role models to many of the students. They want to be them, and they act like them, copy them in the playground; hero worship them. Like it or not, that's part of the deal of being a high level sporting professional.

So Ched Evans should not be re-signed in football, or any job where he could be involved with children. The law has found him guilty & I believe his victim. He needs to find another career.

chockbic · 15/08/2014 12:25

Agree with you Henrietta it sets a really bad example to youngsters.

However he will patted on the back by the boys club, no doubt. With perhaps a caveat about getting caught.

Sigh.

Mengog · 15/08/2014 13:14

Capt - Whether it's a problem or not, football at its top level is morally corrupt. The issues is no one cares as long as the money roles in.

The FA, I don't believe, have any actual power to sanction a player for non football related behaviour. If they do, then it's not used, probably due to uncertain legal ground.

The blades aren't doing a public service. However, if Sunderland, Wigan or Real Betis signed him would it still be an issue. The petition just deals with Sheffield United.

Henrietta - All footballers should be CRB checked then in the interests of fairness.

Or if the team visit a school or do a community event, he doesn't go. Ultimately he is there to play football.

HenriettaTurkey · 15/08/2014 13:24

Yes, Mengog, I agree all footballers should be crb checked.

CaptChaos · 15/08/2014 13:33

Interesting piece in the New Statesman here about how convicted rapists shouldn't be given a second chance at being hailed as heroes. No matter what you want to believe Mengog, what is happening here is vile.

ABlandAndDeadlyCourtesy · 15/08/2014 13:33

Failing a CRB check would disqualify a lot of people from a lot of jobs.

CaptChaos · 15/08/2014 13:33

As it bloody well should, otherwise what's the point of them?

HenriettaTurkey · 15/08/2014 13:35

Exactly!

ABlandAndDeadlyCourtesy · 15/08/2014 13:37

Yy capt.

I also disagree that "ultimately his job is to play football" - his job has a lot of aspects including being a public face of his club etc. I also think Suarez should be investigated for assault and serve time if he is found guilty.

CaptChaos · 15/08/2014 13:43

If ultimately his job is to play football, then he shouldn't mind about playing it in some minor league semi-pro team, should he? Holding men who perpetrate violence against women up as some kind of role model shows how utterly redundant the criminal justice system is when it comes to VAWG.

MQv2 · 15/08/2014 14:21

"So Ched Evans should not be re-signed in football, or any job where he could be involved with children. The law has found him guilty & I believe his victim. He needs to find another career"

But practically speaking I'd imagine its very simple to organise his schedule at the club so he's not involved in it.
I think the crb/community argument is a flimsy enough one and also just provides sympathisers ammo.
If you say "he shouldn't play for Sheffield utd because it would mean being involved with children/community programmes" then it's quite easily rebuffed by the club taking measures to make sure he's not involved in any of them.
If you then move in to a moral objection which I think has stronger grounds, then sympathisers will say "hold on a minute ago you claimed it was due to worries about non-footballing roles of the player, now that's been dealt with it turns out you just don't want him playing regardless"

ABlandAndDeadlyCourtesy · 15/08/2014 14:31

You can have more than one reason for an opinion, MQ.

Mengog · 15/08/2014 14:45

Capt - Whether it's a problem or not, football at its top level is morally corrupt. The issues is no one cares as long as the money roles in.

The FA, I don't believe, have any actual power to sanction a player for non football related behaviour. If they do, then it's not used, probably due to uncertain legal ground.

The blades aren't doing a public service. However, if Sunderland, Wigan or Real Betis signed him would it still be an issue. The petition just deals with Sheffield United.

Henrietta - All footballers should be CRB checked then in the interests of fairness.

Or if the team visit a school or do a community event, he doesn't go. Ultimately he is there to play football.

PetulaGordino · 15/08/2014 14:47

i suspect the thing that would influence things one way or the other would be if advertisers and sponsors wanted to be associated. it doesn't seem to have bothered them so far (suarez etc), so not sure whether a rape conviction would make much difference

PetulaGordino · 15/08/2014 14:48

*didn't want to be associated

MQv2 · 15/08/2014 14:52

"You can have more than one reason for an opinion, MQ."

Abs

MQv2 · 15/08/2014 14:54

Ugh accidental early post

Meant to say:

Absolutely, I just don't happen to think the crb argument one is particularly strong.
I didn't say it was invalid or that it was wrong, just that its not one I agree with

HenriettaTurkey · 15/08/2014 14:55

Yes - all footballers should be crb checked.

You say it would be easy enough to ensure he did work that didn't involve him in the community. Not so. As soon as he steps on the pitch he becomes part of the community: football is a community game, and he will be a role model, and children will look up to him, whether he likes it or not.

IdealistAndProudOfIt · 15/08/2014 15:00

Is it ok on mumsnet to suggest that those angry about a convicted rapist returning to a high - profile 'job' could take the path of emailing both the club and sponsor - and the football association - with words to that effect - as someone earlier on said there is a condition in football known as bringing the game into disrepute, and the sponsor might not - should not - want their brand associated with said convicted rapist. At the least they should be publicly stating that this bloke did something evil. Which apparently they haven't.

Yes I know about the 'he's paid his debt to society' argument. The counter is there's really no such thing, it's a stupid idea. he's shown no remorse and is therefore a continuing danger to women. And his is a high-profile position which acts as a role-model to boys and men.

CaptChaos · 15/08/2014 15:05

I think emailing and writing to he sponsor is a completely legitimate thing to do with regard to this.