The recent story about whether or not Ched Evans should be allowed to return to professional is that most rare of things. It is a sports story, that has blurred into genuine news. It’s hardly surprising, considering the controversial nature of the story and its implications.. Evans, a former Manchester City forward who has represented his country 13 times, is a convicted rapist. He has been charged, convicted and served a prison sentence. However, he does not accept it like this. Yes, he admits to having sex with the person in question, but Evans maintains it was consensual. Indeed, his “apology” was not to the victim, but to his partner, whom he believes he betrayed. There are no shortage of questions about whether or not he should be allowed to return to his previous career, so let’s examine them.
It is an ethical question at the root of it. Many other people have argued, for and against, in their search for life after sentence. Some can return to their work, but obviously this depends on the profession. A convicted rapist who works in a call-centre for example, is not in the public sphere. Certainly it isn’t a role where you have young people watching you, seeing you as a role model and cheering your name. The sight and sound of children cheering Evans name is anathema to some. Cantona kicked, Zidane headbutted and Barton has a rap-sheet too long to discuss, but none of them have ever been convicted of rape. It could be argued some of them aren’t perfect role models for children but some do idolise them. I know I never set out to plant my studs into a spectators chest any time I had a kickabout growing up. I did however, strut about with my collar up, attempting a piece of Gallic flair more in the vein of Cantona’s lob against Sunderland or THAT Hampden Park volley in 2001 by the aforementioned Zizou. But I never gave a thought about Ched Evans, other than “what a weird name that is.”
I was never a Man City fan. Not many were before they became the living proof that money buys success, domestically anyway. My sole means of cheering on anyone in a Sheffield United kit was for Sean Bean taking his penalty in When Saturday Comes. And I couldn’t care less about Welsh football. It would be different if Evans was a different calibre of footballer too. He has played at the top level of British football and though that was some years ago, he could still be playing at a competitive level. A level which would see him command a wage packet, which even in the third tier, would total thousands every single week, whether he played or not. This would be money many fans could only dream of, but it would be money fans would be paying into the pocket of Evans, a rapist. How galling that would be to a fan whose daughter, sister, girlfriend etc had gone through the same hell.
After several years in prison, there is no guarantee Ched Evans has the capability of laying professional football. Sure he’s trained with Sheffield United and all that. If you’re a football fan with a decent level of interest in the game, odds are you have played more football than him over the last two and a half years. You may have even played at a higher level. But then again, there was no reason why you shouldn’t have. Odds are that you haven’t committed a sexual offence and probably never will.
So what happens if a football club does give him a contract and let him lay in their colours? Ostracism seems inevitable, just ask Jessica Ennis-Hill or Paul Heaton. People in prominent roles will feel an invisible hand on their shoulder, telling them that they must put clear blue water between themselves and the club in question. But whether or not you like it, there is one rule for famous people, and another for the man on the street. After all, isn’t that why there is so much fuss over this case and not one of a Sunday League player with a similar conviction?
Ostracism is contagious. Paul Heaton coming out in support of Evans playing football professionally would have hit Housemartins’ record sales. No doubt about it. No how matter you act in your profession, or how good you are at it, comments made outside it will affect you. Look at Morrissey’s comments on an array of subjects, not limited to people who eat meat and Chinese people. Or for a more relevant comparison, Dave Whelan’s comments recently defending equally offensive comments made by an employee of his, Wigan coach Malky Mackay. It is yet to see if DW sports will receive a commercial uppercut.
Has he served his sentence? Yes. Has he been rehabilitated? Hard to say, but it doesn’t seem like it. What is sure is that the person he has been convicted of raping is serving a life sentence. More people will be offended if he plays than if he doesn’t. Maybe footballers aren’t supposed to be role models, but they are. Cantona defended his own actions, Zidane defended his but Evans has no defence, no remorse, no club and I would be telling lies if I said I wanted that last one to change. Convicted criminals deserve the chance to lead a normal life after they serve their sentence. The thing is, being a professional footballer is not a normal life.
Beyond The Walls 