Ok so he's a rapist, but he's our rapist.

So the Sheffield United supporters are planning to applaud for Ched Evans on 9 minutes and 35 minutes of their game against Stevenage today, to show their support of him?

Just like Anton Ferdinand will be rounded on by the baying Chelsea fans when they play QPR, because John Terry is charged with racially abusing him?
Liverpool players wear T-shirst supporting Luis Suarez when he was charged with the same offence against Patrice Evra.

Is there nothing that football fans consider too bad for them to turn against their heroes? I know I would not entertain Luke McCormick ever playing professional football again, but Lee Hughes has been playing on for years after killing someone whilst drunk driving, and is now facing charges of sexual assault as well. If he keeps scoring goals for Notts County many fans just don't care. If he was sacked by them and played against Notts County a month later however, he would be vilified.

It's the Dane Bunney mentality. He tweets abuse towards the woman who had an affair with Ryan Giggs, even though she was a single woman and he is a married man, who also slept with his own brothers wife. To Bunney, Giggs is a hero because he plays for Man Utd, so his behaviour doesn't matter. The same with Wayne Rooney, he can do no wrong in Bunney's eyes yet if he were to transfer to Man City he would be abused constantly by the likes of Bunney.

Is there not a line? Do the majority of football fans have no morals whatsoever? Or am I in a minority and anything goes these days?


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2136435/Ched-Evans-Fans-footballer-jailed-rape-planning-support-match-today.html

There is a line and supporters clapping Ched Evans today crosses it. I disagree with you about both Lee Hughes's and McCormick's possible returns to football though. For there ever to be justice in society we have to place our faith in the court system and abide by the sanctions issued by it. Both Hughes and McCormick will have served their time for what they did, no matter how awful their crimes were, and once released need to make a living somehow. Why should they be banned from football but allowed to write a book, become a gardener or drive a truck? A job is a job and once they are out they have to get one or they have no choice but to bludge off the state and surely we don't want to waste any more money on them? They have to be allowed to get on and do the best that they can for themselves. If that is football then so be it.

Sir Francis Drake wrote:

There is a line and supporters clapping Ched Evans today crosses it. I disagree with you about both Lee Hughes's and McCormick's possible returns to football though. For there ever to be justice in society we have to place our faith in the court system and abide by the sanctions issued by it. Both Hughes and McCormick will have served their time for what they did, no matter how awful their crimes were, and once released need to make a living somehow. Why should they be banned from football but allowed to write a book, become a gardener or drive a truck? A job is a job and once they are out they have to get one or they have no choice but to bludge off the state and surely we don't want to waste any more money on them? They have to be allowed to get on and do the best that they can for themselves. If that is football then so be it.

If McCormick was available would you want him back in goal for us? Just wondering. Is it ok for him to play again as long as it's not for your team?

If I was the manager I would play the best XI that I could get on the pitch whoever they were. That is what he gets paid to do. As a supporter I could never clap or cheer him. That is my choice to make.

What SFD said, I could never cheer them, but if they've done the time and they are able to earn a living and contribute, fair enough.

I dislike the football mentality in general. The overt reactions to virtually anything are cringeworthy. One minute they're congratulating themseves on observing a minute's silence, the next, baying horrendous abuse at someone else.

On the issue of McCormick, amidst all the condemnation of his actions I felt sympathy for the man. The reason ? Many, many of us have either driven when we've had a drink and/or nearly fallen asleep at the wheel. There but for the grace of god go so many of us.
Inexcusable and a terrible tragedy. My thoughts go out to the victims and their family but I doubt that Luke will ever go a day without feeling the guilt................ the same could apply to so many, so ready to cast the first stone.

Sir Francis Drake wrote:

If I was the manager I would play the best XI that I could get on the pitch whoever they were. That is what he gets paid to do. As a supporter I could never clap or cheer him. That is my choice to make.

Ok I see your point of view for a manager, but as a fan it would be difficult not to cheer if he saved a penalty for instance.

If he wants to be forgiven for what he did and wants to redeem himself in some way then I would suggest he does some charity work where he's not in the spotlight. Maybe being part of a campaign to stop drink driving where he has to sit in front of a camera and tell people what he did that morning, and did whatever he could to raise money for children's charities.

I personally hate the Daily Mail mentality of people wishing to hand out separate or additional punishments to the courts, once you have done your time you have paid the price for the crime. It's just like asking the parents of the child killed in a RTA whether they think the sentence is fair, justice needs to be just that, justice, not retribution from all and sundry for ever and ever.

Iggy wrote:

I personally hate the Daily Mail mentality of people wishing to hand out separate or additional punishments to the courts, once you have done your time you have paid the price for the crime. It's just like asking the parents of the child killed in a RTA whether they think the sentence is fair, justice needs to be just that, justice, not retribution from all and sundry for ever and ever.

Unfortunately in this country the punishment very rarely fits the crime.

My point was really about Sheff Utd fans planning to show their support for Ched Evans today, which is sick.

Greenjock wrote:

Iggy wrote:

I personally hate the Daily Mail mentality of people wishing to hand out separate or additional punishments to the courts, once you have done your time you have paid the price for the crime. It's just like asking the parents of the child killed in a RTA whether they think the sentence is fair, justice needs to be just that, justice, not retribution from all and sundry for ever and ever.

Unfortunately in this country the punishment very rarely fits the crime.

My point was really about Sheff Utd fans planning to show their support for Ched Evans today, which is sick.

Which I actually meant to answer in my post, no they are sick fucks, they shouldn't applaud him at all, it stinks.

Greenjock wrote:

So the Sheffield United supporters are planning to applaud for Ched Evans on 9 minutes and 35 minutes of their game against Stevenage today, to show their support of him?

Just like Anton Ferdinand will be rounded on by the baying Chelsea fans when they play QPR, because John Terry is charged with racially abusing him?
Liverpool players wear T-shirst supporting Luis Suarez when he was charged with the same offence against Patrice Evra.

Is there nothing that football fans consider too bad for them to turn against their heroes? I know I would not entertain Luke McCormick ever playing professional football again, but Lee Hughes has been playing on for years after killing someone whilst drunk driving, and is now facing charges of sexual assault as well. If he keeps scoring goals for Notts County many fans just don't care. If he was sacked by them and played against Notts County a month later however, he would be vilified.

It's the Dane Bunney mentality. He tweets abuse towards the woman who had an affair with Ryan Giggs, even though she was a single woman and he is a married man, who also slept with his own brothers wife. To Bunney, Giggs is a hero because he plays for Man Utd, so his behaviour doesn't matter. The same with Wayne Rooney, he can do no wrong in Bunney's eyes yet if he were to transfer to Man City he would be abused constantly by the likes of Bunney.

Is there not a line? Do the majority of football fans have no morals whatsoever? Or am I in a minority and anything goes these days?


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2136435/Ched-Evans-Fans-footballer-jailed-rape-planning-support-match-today.html

Bunney sounds like a monumental wanker.
The whole footballer type sheepish worship goes beyond contempt, i cringe at some of the nauseating shows of "support" from not just the fans but players as well,some of them will literally argue that black is white...unbelievable

i did not follow this case in the press much but am i right in thinking that one footballer was found guilty and another one not guilty if so how can the girl be too drunk to consent with one of them but not the other one?. im not sticking up for ched evans im just hoping someone can fill me in on the legal side.

He was definitely guilty, he pre booked a hotel room with the aim of getting a girl back to have sex with him and his mates while it was all filmed.

The girl in question was seen on CCTV lying comatose in a club earlier on and the other footballer saw her trying to walk home and he offered her a lift in a taxi before texting Evans to say he had one.

Evans and a few others turned up at the hotel where the other guy was waiting, and while he was having sex with her Evans came in. When his mate had finished Evans took over while his mates filmed from outside the window.

The girl may have agreed to go back to the hotel originally but she was paralytic.

What also amazes me is his arrogance in court, saying he could have any girl he wanted. And his girlfriend still wants to be with him.

Now it doesn't sound like the girl was an angel but that's not the point. She has also been named on Twitter, by a teammate of Evans from Sheffield United, and constantly abused by people like Dane Bunney who couldn't care less what their heroes get up to. I hope that if the fans start applauding and chanting his name later, that there are enough decent people in the crowd to drown them out.

Anyone know what did happen? I agree with GJ on this point but also SFD on the post sentence treatment of people and Tring on "there but for the grace of God go I".

Agreement on ATD. Do I get a suspension for that?

A suspension for me too then. They are losing with 10 minures to go so we will probably see another selfpityfc blaming the court and jury if they miss out on promotion.

Nick Wall wrote:

Anyone know what did happen? I agree with GJ on this point but also SFD on the post sentence treatment of people and Tring on "there but for the grace of God go I".

Agreement on ATD. Do I get a suspension for that?

There was a spontaneous burst of applause for no reason, but at the time Stevenage were attacking and almost scored. I think this stopped it in it's tracks. Sheffield Utd have brought it back to 2-2 but I haven't really been watching it so I don't know if there was any other show of support.

Iggy wrote:

no they are sick fucks, they shouldn't applaud him at all, it stinks.

Agree totally... SICK..

ATB,J.

think his arrogance in police interview may well have had a say in matters....................

Without knowing the full facts, I guess it is hard to comment, but I was surprised one was found not guilty and one guilty when they both admitting having sex with her.

Changing subject slightly, this whole attitude of football, especially around Argyle when we were in administration left me feeling very cold. 0.77in the pound (or 0.21 as it ended up) is a disgrace for the small businesses (and Inscapes) who did business with us, especially while other creditors receive 100% because of some odd rule only applicable to football. Yet the fans accept it, because it is football and their club.

I have had a season ticket every year since 1980, yet not this year. At the time I wasn't prepared to risk £800 for 2 of us when we were not guaranteed survival and I wasn't comfortable with the whole administration process.

It was strange I must admit. Like the gorgeous GCFC says it may well have been his cocky attitude that counted against him.

I think the first guy who was found not guilty offered her a lift back to the hotel and the jury considered this to be her consenting. He then left when Ched Evans arrived, and Evans friends started filming him from outside the window. I don't think the fact that Evans left by a fire escape rather than the main door helped either.