Heard this earlier on 5 live, apparently not 'a route back into football', and I'm sure the 150k signatures would say so too.
I'm on the fence on this one. He did the crime, did the time it should only be right he goes to work in his skilled profession. However every woman he works with will know what he was found guilty for despite his pleas. What if he has a female physio?, could hardly see a good working relationship. As for the role model stuff, I don't buy into that. The kids will see him as a role model for his footballing skills, I'd be surprised if they understood his crime unless some over wielding parent said more than they probably should know at such a young age - but hey that's only my slant on it.
Never would I defend this lowlife, but what gauls me is the number of scumbags, MPs, Lords and Pakistani grooming gangs, et al, who are still walking free after abusing kids, at least Evans has done some time, not enough I know, but a dam sight more than some of the above are likely to do.
Evans has shown no remorse, he's in a position that many look up to and as such a role model I dont think he should be allowed back into Football. Just what messages are we sending out to the younger members of society if he's just allowed to carry on as if nothing has happened?
Yes he is allowed a 2nd chance, but theres plenty for him to do outside Football and the public eye.
If I was the SUFC board I would tell him 'on yer bike son' unfortunately some Blades fans would sell their own granny to get promoted. A very sad state of affairs.
Evans in my opinion should not be allowed anywhere near a Professional Football Club again but the FA set a dangerous Precedent allowing the likes of Lee Hughes & Luke McCormack to continue their careers after their actions resulted in loss of life!!!
I'm with Exeter on this on two counts. Firstly, it's difficult to decide which occupations are appropriate to return to and which are not. There are, for example, cases of violent criminals and even murderers enjoying nice earners on stage, television, film and music.
Secondly, I don't buy the 'role model' argument. JE is on dodgy ground with this one as her sport is a byeword for cheating and she has appeared happily on programmes with convicted drug cheats. The idea that footballers are role models is surely a joke. Evans was found guilty of rape on the grounds that the woman was too drunk to have given consent. Yet multiple screwing by footballers, rugby players and others is not unknown, hardly cons***utes 'role model' behaviour but causes no outrage among fans.
Sometimes people spend so long on the moral high ground I'm amazed they don't get al***ude sickness.