Inevitably. ... Ched Evans

Walsall 1 v Sheffield United 0

Johnstone Paint Trophy

Wednesday 12 November 2014

Twitter @ ball_sup

I've watched some football. I've had a drink. But this Blog is a Ched Evans Opinion Piece.

Let's not Piss around. I don't want Ched Evans back at Sheffield United. But its gone like everything else in modern life ain't it? You lot run to that corner & dig in. We'll do the same over here. It's time to POLARISE.

For me the dilemma is clear.

1. I do not want a rapist playing for my Club. I’m a Feminist.

2. I do not want a nonce playing for my Club. I'm an un-reconstructed 1980s Football Tearaway.

3. I do want to live in a modern, progressive society which has due process law & punishment. And then rehabilitation.  I do not want to live in a medieval, vengeful, grudgeful society. I’m a Liberal

Go on. Pick the bones out of that. Give me the Perfect Solution. Not easy is it?

And have this as well. Evans is allowed to protest his innocence. It's his right. All power to that.

The rush to either condemn him as permanently evil scum or to deny everything & shout from the rooftops "he dint do owt" frightens me. The reality is between those extremes.

Me, I've got a least worse choice. Rapist or Dark Ages. I've ummmmeddd. I've aaaarrrreeddd. I don't want him back. Here's why.

He’s not my Hero.

I’m dispassionate. He wasn't in the team when I saw my first game. He won't be in the team when I see my last. When he was playing he was just the Current Hired Hand.  As Shaun Willy Ryder says "Don't talk to me about heroes, most of these men seem like serfs".

He Dint Do Owt

I know some of our fanbase will welcome him back as the innocent injured party all conquering hero. He Dint Do Owt. Some will be out and out Rape Deniers. That is unpalatable. I fear his return will bring out the worst in our most obnoxious supporters. I don't want to subject myself to that.

Pass the problem on

I’m a Retired Bureaucrat. Here’s my skillset. Dodge the bullet. Let him sign for another Club. He wouldn't be welcomed back AT ANY OTHER CLUB in quite the same way as at SUFC. We wouldn’t be signing a rapist. He's given a second chance & rehabilitation. Hey. You know, that’s not a bad solution.

I hear arguments that if we believe in justice, if we believe in rehabilitation there’s no difference if he signs for Sheffield United or another Club. We might as well have him. Bollocks. It will actually aid his rehabilitation if he plays at a different Club. A fresh start. Leave some of his past behind. A calmer environment. Indeed, Ched, if you're reading this Pal, you'd find the ride a lot easier elsewhere.

A little bit more of the Club dies if we sign him

Drip Drip Drip. Foreign ownership. I’m anti-Saudi, a despotic, feudal regime part owning MY Club (#women2drive). A Turkish Director whose main job seems to be to tell us how passionate he is about the club. To steal a line - mate, I’ve spent longer in the Ticket Office Queue than you have at the Club - wind it in a bit. Shirts sponsored by a luxury car company that the fans buying the shirts can never afford. Drip Drip Drip. A Rapist.

The Family

And now the bit where I'm not proud of my own views. The loathsome, bleating, it's not fair, hey little rich girl media campaign run on the poor sod's behalf. Excruciating. Did they think they could get in bed with the Media & it'd all turn out well before bedtime?  Deluded. Protest your innocence by all means. But it'll help if you come across as sensible human beings.

The Victim

The situation as widely described sounds appalling. Whatever the circumstances, I deplore that.  I’ve heard individual bits of abuse in the pub, on the bus, in the ground. I've heard collective vile chants.  That's not how to behave. Sorry, it isn't.

What can he do?

There are things that would soften my view. Evans is allowed to protest his innocence. Although I wish he’d done that without the loathsome Media Campaign. But he must accept that protesting his innocence makes it more difficult for a Club to sign him. Because he “is not showing remorse”. Because he "is unrepentant".  Hello sunshine, that’s how life works - price to pay I’m afraid.  I understand if he feels he can’t apologise to the victim. But he could show compassion.

He could say - I’m appalled at what has happened to the girl from my court case.

He could say - No one deserves that.

He could say - Everyone, stop calling her names, stop trying to name her & expose her identity, let her get on with her life.

He could say - I’m going to be forthright. Sex with a person who is incapable of giving consent is Rape in my eyes.  Anyone who feels that is somehow not real rape or is something that happens every night in every town is wrong. But, of course, I maintain that is not what happened in my situation.

He could say - I’ve heard & been told about the vile chants - stop them now. They’re disrespectful.

He’s missed a trick.

The Sheffield United statement is actually pretty good. There was always going to be a long drawn out process between his release & a new contract. Not least of the reasons being he needs to prove his fitness & that he can still play. I disagree with letting him train. But at least the Club have had a good go at explaining it to me.

And ..... he's currently a released convicted rapist. But if he eventually gets his conviction quashed under review & appeal, he can come back for me. I have no problem with that. That is how the law works. I won't say I'll welcome him back with open arms. But I respect the Law enough to say - No Problem.

We haven’t signed him. Have a Pop if we do. I don't want him back.