Sports Category
Sports news, commentary and scores with wit and added value. We compare and contrast the best and worst sports reporting in the mainstream press, blogs, TV and online. We love the English Premier League (Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs, Manchester United and Manchester City) and all things football but we cover cricket, rugby, the Olympics, tennis, golf, F1 and highlights of the sporting year.
Ched Evans: blame Operation Yewtree for the hysterical trolls
Janie Turner looks at why Ched Evens is riding high on the news cycle. Ched Evan is, the convicted rapidt looking to return to professional football:
The forces used to stymie Evans’s return to football are extrajudicial, unfair and counter to the principle of rehabilitation of offenders. But this is not mob rule. Evans is simply unfortunate to have committed his crime at a moment when attitudes to rape and sexual violence have undergone a sudden, profound shift.
There is a thesis to be written about how our national consciousness was changed by the official reports and Operation Yewtree trials that followed Jimmy Savile’s death. Week after week, we were battered with revelations about the depravity of celebrated men. Avuncular stars, whose TV shows we loved as kids, who our mums would have trusted to take us out in their Rollers…
Being bombarded by these trials and reminded of an era when rape was brushed over, when copping a feel was a boss’s right, has, I believe, affected many British women. It not only made them angry; it made them bold. No longer would they let men, especially famous ones, act with impunity…
Ched was not the first. He just got soaked when the weather changed. Football is famous for young men who believe their wealth and status gives them licence to be sexual predators. What Evans did in a hotel room with his friend Clayton McDonald, who was cleared, was a “roasting”: several such footballer gang-bang/gang-rapes have come close to prosecution before.
Roasting has a modus operandi: find a drunk submissive girl (“I got a bird,” McDonald texted Evans, who rushed round with mates to video it); take turns to have sex with her; discard without care. If the FA won’t ban convicted rapists, maybe the tale of Ched Evans, the clubless pariah, who wasn’t even saved by his girlfriend’s daddy’s giant chequebook, might make them think twice.
So much for the climate. But the crime remains the same. What’s changed is the online petitioners are trolling Ched Evans, using his notoriety to prove their worth. The worrying thing is that the fevered and hysterical tone of reporting on the matter stymie debate and enforces a single view.
Transfer Balls: plucky ‘underdogs’ Manchester United seduce Mats Hummels
Transfer Balls: Are Manchester United buying Mats Hummels, the Borissia Dortmund and Germany defender?
The Mirror tells its readers that if the price is right, Hummels is on his way to Old Trafford:
Manchester United launch £35million Mats Hummels bid as Van Gaal looks to capitalise on Dortmund woes
Back in October, the Mirror said that United would not get Hummels:
The Guardian told its readers that Hummels would never leave Dortmund:
He had told German media:
“I’ve been here [Dortmund] for six and a half years and it’s simply more exciting and more difficult to win trophies as an underdog.
“Everybody can win things with 25 superstars in the squad. At BVB, every single player has more responsibility but also more opportunity. It’s difficult to win trophies with Dortmund but it’s always possible. And when it happens, the feeling is simply indescribable.
“When we won the championship for a second time in 2012, each one of us could have gone wherever we wanted. But I thought: ‘No, what we have here is something truly unique.’ I’m happy I felt this way. You don’t often find a team where people are really friends with each other. If you’ve got the chance to play at such a high level with your mates you have to hold on to that for as long as possible.”
Which leds nicely to the Mirror’s back page, which has news of plucky underdogs Manchester United:
Such are the facts…
Posted: 10th, January 2015 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment
Who Replaces Andy Townsend at ITV Football: hooting simpletons, ‘better’ bores and other options
RAPTUROUS cheers broke out across Britain yesterday as ITV confirmed that Andy Townsend’s contract won’t be renewed when it expires in the summer.
Andy has been in-and-around ITV Football for over a decade now, including his much maligned ‘Tactics Truck’. He’s best known for ending every single sentence with ‘Clive’, stating exactly what’s happened a full 3 seconds after viewers have watched the incident AND replay of the event.
Quite simply, it is mystifying how Townsend held a job for so long on television. Then again, ITV also gave Jim Beglin a wage. At all. ITV are, of course, batshit mental.
Also on his way out is the nice, but ultimately ineffectual presenter that is Matt Smith.
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Posted: 9th, January 2015 | In: Sports, TV & Radio | Comment
The Persecution of Ched Evans: slum player in Hillsborough ‘fury’
Did the chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association compare the “plight” of Ched Evans, the footballer jailed for raping a woman at a north Wales hotel, to the Hillsborough disaster?
The Times says he did:
The Times reports:
Yesterday it was announced that Evans’s move to Oldham Athletic had collapsed, and he also apologised “for the effects” of his actions, while continuing to maintain his innocence. After the announcement, Gordon Taylor caused outrage when he made the “insensitive parallel” in a Radio 5 Live interview.
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Arsenal Transfer Balls: Isco, Ramos and Luis Suarez arrive in a party of 54 new signings
Arsenal Transfer Balls: it’s been a busy, busy, BUSY January for Arsenal, who had at the last count bought 48 new players. Well, so say the experts in the mainstream media.
We’re onto Batch 6 of new Arsenal signgings. And it’s only January 9.
Today there is more news:
Daily Express: “Sergio Ramos puts Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal on RED ALERT with Premier League admission – SERGIO RAMOS has admitted he is more tempted by a move to Manchester United, Arsenal or Chelsea with every passing day.”
Number of mentions of Arsenal: zero. In fact. Ramos does not mention a single Premier League club. Not entirely incidentally, Ramos is in negotiations over a new Real Madrid contract.
The Metro: “Arsenal’s transfer moves for Edinson Cavani, Paolo Dybala and Jonathan Calleri are all in the balance”
Daily Mirror: “Arsenal ‘turn attention to Gabriel Paulista after back-tracking on Loic Perrin interest'”
The Mirror adds:
The Gunners were said to be keen on Saint-Etienne’s Perrin but have now decided that a move for the Brazilian defender is a more viable option
Said by whom? Well, there was that story in the… Mirror, the one with no quotes, no proof, no sources (named or unnamed). But hats off to the Mirror for debunbking its own Balls.
Daily Express: “Gunners renew Suarez bid”
Arsenal have bid for Barcelona’s Luis Suarez? No. They haven’t.
Daily Mirror: “Arsenal news and transfers: Isco targeted in blockbuster £64MILLION move?”
Of course they are. Could any Arsenal fans doubt it?
Arsenal are preparing an incredible £64m move for Real Madrid star Isco in the hope to beat up off competition from Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City…
But not from Manchester United. Maybe the Mirror’s saving that scoop for another day?
Total: 6 news players.
Previously:
Batch 1: William Carvalho, James McCarthy, Mario Suarez, Edinson Cavani, Loris Karius, Ilkay Gundogan, Teddy Bishop.
Batch 2: Loic Perrin, Mattia Destro, Federico Valverde, Rayan Souici, Sami Khedira, Yohan Cabaye, Ayoze Perez, Bruno Martins Indi, Moussa Sissoko and Takefusa Kubo.
Batch 3: Iker Casillas, Petr Cech, Adrien Rabiot, Stephan El Shaarawy, Marcelo Brozovic, Krystian Bielik, Mats Hummels, Benedikt Howedes, Victor Wanyama, Xherdan Shaqiri, Adil Rami, Paul Pogba, Sebastian Lichtsteiner, Morgan Schneiderlin and Winston Reid.
Batch 4: Aymeric Laporte, Virgil van Dijk and Ron Vlaar.
Batch 5: Nabil Fekir, Fabio Coentrao, Nemanja Vidic, Sergio Busquets, Lucas Silva, Marco Reus, Matt Targett, Sebastian Giovinco, Nikola Vlasic, Marcelo Brozovic,, Gabriel Barbosa and Malcolm Silva.
Batch 6: Juan Quinetero
Running total of new Arsenal players: 54.
Posted: 9th, January 2015 | In: Arsenal, Sports | Comment (1)
Transfer Balls: Messi & Luis Suarez Cheslea and Manchester City bound?
THE Premier League has a lot of money, so every time someone half-decent flutters their eyelashes at the transfer market, there’s a good chance that player will be wooed by an English team.
With that, the Premier League could well see two of the world’s most famous players – although, famous for different reasons. Barcelona are having some problems with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, who could both be dreaming of England and potentially starring in MOTD 2’s ‘2 Good 2 Bad’ section (which is all any player wants).
At the Nou Camp, Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has been under pressure as things aren’t running as smoothly as they have been. There’s a lot of chatter about a rift with Lionel Messi, who has been linked with a move to England for a while now. Reports say that Messi and Enrique fought through training last week, which the Barca coach refers to as “inaccurate and ill intentioned”.
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Manchester United Transfer Balls: Van Gaal signs Arjen Robben, Gareth Bale and 26 others
Manchester United Transfer Balls: let’s catch-up with players signed by United this January Transfer window. The experts in the mainstream media have been informative:
So far United have signed: Hugo Loris,Paul Pogba, Mats Hummels, Benedikt Howedes, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, Morgan Schneiderlin, Daniel Alves, Radamel Falcao, Sergio Busquets, Pepe, Ilkay Gundogan, Teddy Bishop, Tyrone Mings, Gareth Bale, Enzo Perez, Nicolas Gaitan, Kevin Strootman, Seamus Coleman, Fabio Coentrao, Adil Rami, Ron Vlaar, Virgil van Dijk and Marco Reus.
Now read on…
Daily Mail: “Meanwhile, United will accelerate contract talks with goalkeeper David De Gea, 24, after agreeing an 18-month deal with World Cup winner Victor Valdes.”
M.E.N: “Manchester United look set to miss out on highly-rated Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard, 16, who may move to Real Madrid.”
Daily Star: “AC Milan are ready to accept an offer from Manchester United for their midfielder Nigel De Jong.”
Daily Star: “Leeds have offered rising star Lewis Cook a new contract to fend off interest from Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal.”
Running total of players signed by Manchester United this Janaury: 28. And counting…
Posted: 8th, January 2015 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment
Liverpool Transfer Balls: Mario Balotelli is not a patch on Mario Balotelli
Is it time for Liverpool to get shot of Mario Balotelli? Well, reading the Daily Mail you would think it was.
On August 31, 2014, Neil Ashton told Mail raders:When Rodgers reviews the tape of this game, he will be impressed with Balotelli. He worked hard and did the dirty work…
Then there is the unseen side, carrying out tactical instructions for the benefit of the Liverpool team. When Tottenham won their first corner of the game midway through the first half, he ran at three-quarter pace to make sure he was back in time to mark Younes Kaboul. Impressive stuff…
Balotelli is already part of the Liverpool family, sitting neatly into the environment Rodgers has created for this expressive team…
…when Balotelli settles into a routine of life at Liverpool and starts knocking in the goals again, he will wear the shirt of the Azzurri once again. We know he has the quality.
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Caley Thistle tell fans to ‘pay what you can’
THE topic of ticket prices in British football is a hot one. English fans will know that they’re routinely paying more to watch live football than any other country. There’s the small matter of everyone being skint, so what is being done about it?
Well, Inverness Caledonian Thistle have an idea which they’re trialling – and provided no-one takes the piss, it could be a real winner!
Caley Thistle chairman Kenny Cameron has announced that the club are doing a ‘Pay What You Can’ initiative, in a bid to get more supporters through the door at the Caledonian Stadium.
The Scottish Premiership club will test this move for the game against St Johnstone on Tuesday, January 20th and, if it works, other teams should take note.
Not only will the Caley Thistle fans be getting the best of the initiative, but the offer will also be extended to the travelling Saints supporters too. The Inverness chairman said: “If we can attract fans through the turnstiles on the evening of the 20th it will be a win-win for all.”
“Those that come will not only be paying ‘what they can’ but will also be generating match day income by buying merchandise, a match magazine, a coffee, pie or Bovril, and of course, they will add to the atmosphere which we all know means a lot to the management team and the lads.”
“If they like the action on offer on the pitch – and John Hughes is fielding a highly attractive team this season playing excellent football – then perhaps this incentive can be the trigger to their returning to further matches. We often hear in the press that games in Scotland are overpriced and if prices were slashed crowds would increase dramatically, well this is certainly an opportunity to dip our toes in the water and see if this is really the case.”
“We feel it is certainly worth trying and if it successful we would certainly look at doing it again and then the carry-over from that would be a full review of our pricing structures for next season.”
And, even further, Caley Thistle will also allow free entry to children (under 12) when accompanied by a paying adult at the Highland derby against Ross County on January 31st.
That’s how you do it.
Arsenal Transfer Balls: Marco Reues, Sami Khedira are two of 48 new signings and COUNTING
Arsenal Transfer Balls: let’s catch-up on what players are being signed by Arsenal in the Janaury 2014 Trasnfer Window. The Press are never wrong.
Today the Star says Arsenal are signing Juan Quinetero:
SOUTHAMPTON manager Ronald Koeman is ready to battle Arsenal to sign Porto’s Columbian World Cup star Juan Quintero.
Number of quotes from Arsenal, the players, scouts or even an unnamed ‘source’: zero.
Yeah, just one player. The odd thing is that Arsenal are usually players in batches. Let’s recap:
Batch 1: William Carvalho, James McCarthy, Mario Suarez, Edinson Cavani, Loris Karius, Ilkay Gundogan, Teddy Bishop.
Batch 2: Loic Perrin, Mattia Destro, Federico Valverde, Rayan Souici, Sami Khedira, Yohan Cabaye, Ayoze Perez, Bruno Martins Indi, Moussa Sissoko and Takefusa Kubo.
Batch 3: Iker Casillas, Petr Cech, Adrien Rabiot, Stephan El Shaarawy, Marcelo Brozovic, Krystian Bielik, Mats Hummels, Benedikt Howedes, Victor Wanyama, Xherdan Shaqiri, Adil Rami, Paul Pogba, Sebastian Lichtsteiner, Morgan Schneiderlin and Winston Reid.
Batch 4: Aymeric Laporte, Virgil van Dijk and Ron Vlaar.
Batch 5: Nabil Fekir, Fabio Coentrao, Nemanja Vidic, Sergio Busquets, Lucas Silva, Marco Reus, Matt Targett, Sebastian Giovinco, Nikola Vlasic, Marcelo Brozovic,, Gabriel Barbosa and Malcolm Silva.
Running total of new Arsenal recruits this January, as told by the Press: a decent 48.
Liverpool Transfer Balls: Karim Benzema and nine other players kickstart the Anfield revolution
Transfer Balls catches up with comings and goings at Liverpool. Over the current transfer window there have been no new arrivals at Anfield. But the Press need exclusives. So. Let’s see who is defintely heading to Liverpool.
So far, we’ve bene told that Xherdan Shaqiri has signed for Liverpool and Inten Milan; Saido Berahino for £20m; Wilfried Bony; Jermain Defoe; Luciano Vietto; and Steven Gerrard, as soon as he, er, leaves.
Karim Benzema:
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Rabbit tennis: Lycra suits are designed to give racing camels the edge
“The full body suit can help racing camels run faster, while the cream of the species entered into camel beauty contests will have the ability to stand taller after using the suit,” says Abu Dhabi’s Al Shibla Middle East.
The mission statement from the company retailing its full lycra camel suits to the camel racing community is worth repeating:
Sportswear and equipment is a booming business. Everywhere we look we can see people in tracksuits, swimwear, football kits and jogging shorts-we are told to use the proper attire or else we risk injury, inefficiency or even disqualification. The development of ever more impressive technologies to help advance this market is relentless, and the enterprise is rapidly expanding. But why should this be limited to humans?
Rabbit tennis?
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Posted: 7th, January 2015 | In: Sports, Strange But True | Comment
Transfer Balls: Manchester United buy Chelsea fan Paul Pogba for £21m more than he’s worth
Transfer Balls: So. Paul Pogba, the France and Juventus footballer. What’s he up to?
Well, so far, the experts in the mainstream media have told us: Manchester United have bought him for £60m; he’s a Chelsea fan; an Arsenal fan; heading to Arsenal for £40m and to Manchester United for £77m; is loved by Manchester City; and is heading to Liverpool for £50m.
The latest news is that Paul Pogba is worth £56.4m:
Messi should cost an eye-watering £172m if anyone (Chelsea, Man City, PSG) is seriously considering making a bid for the forward. That’s according to CIES Football Observatory research into the current market values of the world’s leading players….
Here’s the Top 10: 1. Lionel Messi £172.6m, 2. Cristiano Ronaldo £104.3m, 3. Eden Hazard £77.6m, 4. Diego Costa £65.9m, 5. Paul Pogba £56.4m, 6. Sergio Aguero £51m, 7. Raheem Sterling £49.4m, 8. Cesc Fabregas £48.6m, 9. Alexis Sanchez £47.8m, 10. Gareth Bale £47m…
Such are the facts…
Posted: 6th, January 2015 | In: Sports | Comment (1)
Liverpool Balls: Steven Gerrard misses the pink
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is leaving the club at this season’s end. That means we will have five long months of tributes to ‘Stevie G’. Today’s words to the wise are from the BBC’s commentator Guy Mowbray, who watching Gerrard score the two decisive goals in plucky Liverpool’s FA Cup third-round win over mighty AFC Wimbledon (#justice), opined:
“If (Steven) Gerrard does complete his hat-trick he will pick up the one memento he doesn’t have – a pink match ball”
Well, as he quips, that and a Premier League winners’ medal…
Transfer Balls: Xherdan Shaqiri signs for Liverpool and Inten Milan
Transfer Balls: Is Xherdan Shaqiri heading to the Premier League? Let’s see what the to-deadline experts are saying:
Liverpool have also made a firm approach for Bayern Munich’s World Cup star Xherdan Shaqiri, with the English club committing to a fee of around £10m with the German champions.
Inter Milan have beaten Liverpool in the race to sign Bayern Munich winger Xherdan Shaqiri…
Liverpool WIN RACE for Bayern’s Xherdan Shaqiri after TRUMPING Inter’s wage offer
Xherdan Shaqiri and his brother Erdin will be in Munich on Wednesday to hold crunch talks with Bayer Munich about a move to either Inter Milan or Liverpool. The Bayern Munich forward is well liked by Brendan Rodgers but Liverpool are reluctant to spend now and would prefer to look at a deal in the summer instead. Inter have offered a £2million loan deal, similar to the one proposed to Arsenal for Lukas Podolski, but Bayern want to sell outright and would like Liverpool to come to the table.
Such are the facts…
Football Balls: In 1967 Leões FC posed for this great team photo
In 1967 Leões FC, based in Peniche, Portugal, posed for this great team photo. That protective headgear sported by goalkeeper on the far right shames Chelsea goalkeeper Peter Cech’s helmet.
Other things to note:
* Donald Sutherland in a great moustache
* Robin Van Persie’s dad
* Little Ron Atkinson
* Jeremy Clarkson
* Dennis Wise (far right)
Spotter: Pies
Arsenal Balls: drive begins to get rid of smoking Wojciech Szczesny
How do Arsenal get rid of their failing goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny?
Well, the biggest story in the world of sport, according to the Mirror, is that Szczesny followed his shoddy performance against Southampton – he got an assist for both Saints goals in a 2-0 defeat – by smoking a cigarette in the shower:
The Sun agrees that smoking a cigarette is a huge deal. But unlike the Mirror’s “Smoking Gun” it opts for ‘Smoking Gunn”.
Both paper agrees that the Gunners’ ‘keeper was fined £20,000 for “SMOKING in the showers after a game”.
Fans of frugal Arsenal might hope the Pole smokes a pack a day, the £20,000-a-pop cigarettes boosting Arsenal’s coffers until Szczesny’s paying to pay and the club can afford a better alternative.
Unless it’s all just nonsense. The Sun waters down the fury of the smoking Gunner by calling the smoke “crafty” and “cheeky”:
The report ends:
Former Arsenal star John Jensen had claimed on Danish TV that Szczesny, 24, had suffered a bitter fall-out with Wenger and would not play again this season. The club denied this specific allegation and say Szczesny remains part of their first-team plans.
And he will do just as soon as they can get shot of the player whose as use as as a wet fag…
Arsenal Transfer Balls: Gunners sign the ‘new Pogba’, the ‘new Messi’ and 31 others
Arsenal Transfer Balls: So far this transfer window, the mainstream media have reported that Arsenal are buying 23 players. Yeah, that’s all.
But that’s not all. Today we read that Arsenal are buying even more footballers:
Loic Perrin:
The Indy: “Arsenal transfer news and rumours: Loic Perrin confirms interest from Gunners”
Mattia Destro:
Daily Star: £12 bid for the Roma striker. Well, maybe.
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Ched Evans: The things you should be thinking about
Sheffield United and Wales striker Ched Evans (centre) arrives at Caernafon Crown Court where he will stand trial today accused of raping a woman at a hotel.
Picture date: Wednesday April 11, 2012.
THE Ched Evans case has been an incredibly emotive case, where people have tried to defend the convicted rapist and, horrifyingly, chased after the victim, presumably believing that she’s stitched an honest lad up.
Model, Nicola McLean, defended Evans and his potential move to Oldham Athletic (which has fallen through) on Twitter, saying: “OK let me get this right! After you leave prison are you not allowed to get a job? Or is that rule reserved only if you kick a ball?”
“Mike Tyson 3 years for rape went straight back to boxing and a movie star rolemodel ? and he maintains his innocence.” “Luke McCormick killed two brothers while drink driving and was later appointed captain of Plymouth argyle so is he ok to be a role model?” she added.
In opposition, there’s a petition, signed by over 20,000 and counting, addressed to Oldham Athletic, which reads: “We do believe he [Ched Evans] has the right to work. We believe that it does not have to be in a role where he influences views about sexual violence, and his presence on your pitch will do this.”
It is all incredibly messy, so what’s needed are some cold, non-shrieking facts about this, to help you make your mind up and nix some of the misconceptions about the whole case.
HE’S INNOCENT! SHE WAS ASKING FOR IT!
Factually speaking, Ched Evans is not innocent, regardless of what you think. A court and jury found him guilty of raping a woman. Evans is appealing against the decision, but that doesn’t mean he’s innocent. The outcome of the appeal may be more damaging to him.
The issue of consent is a hugely emotive thing. As far as the law was concerned, the victim in this was not able to give consent. She’d had a lot to drink, which still doesn’t equate to saying ‘yes’. More to the point, the court heard about what happened, which paints a grim picture.
On 30th May 2011, Evans received a text from Clayton McDonald who said he’d “got a bird”. Now, the woman in question, according to the courts, doesn’t remember getting to the hotel. Evans is on record as saying that he got a taxi to the hotel, let himself in to watch his friend have sex with the woman and then “got involved” while his brother and another friend spied on them through a window and tried to film it on their mobiles.
The fact remains that a jury found these actions to be that of a rapist. Ched Evans remains a rapist until the law says otherwise.
HOW CAN CHED HAVE BEEN A RAPIST BUT THE OTHER GUY WASN’T? SHE MUST’VE KNOWN!
Okay, look at this as a scenario, unrelated to this case. A girl gets incredibly drunk and goes back to a hotel, willingly, with a guy, and has sex. She falls asleep and wakes up with a second person having sex with her. With regards to the second man, he did not get consent so he raped her.
In another case, a woman willingly goes back to a hotel with a man to carry on drinking, however, date-rape drugs are used and the man has sex with her, and then invites his friends to do the same. The victim will wake up with no memory of the assault, but again, it doesn’t mean that she wasn’t raped.
Of course, we’re not implying that the examples above are what happened on that night, but rape cases aren’t ever as simple as simply saying “she was asking for it.”
Clayton McDonald, the other man accused, according to a jury was deemed to have been in a situation where he was likely to think he had consent. Legally, he’s not a rapist. Legally, what happened after that with Ched Evans, makes him a convicted rapist.
HE’S PAID BACK TO SOCIETY BY SERVING HIS TIME!
Legally speaking, Ched Evans has not served his time. Evans has been released from prison under license, which means that his sentence isn’t actually finished. Only the custodial element of his punishment has been served. So if you think that Ched Evans should go back to work because ‘he’s served his time’, technically, you’re wrong.
JUST BECAUSE HE’S DONE SOMETHING WRONG, DOESN’T MEAN HE SHOULDN’T WORK AGAIN!
No-one is saying Ched Evans shouldn’t work again. However, whether he should be a footballer again is another matter. While Evans keeps a toe in the public eye, he’s an exceptional case.
If Evans doesn’t play professional football again, he can still live a relatively normal life, like anyone who has a criminal record. However, in this instance, the victim has had to move home five times under new identities because of people ‘outing’ her. For this reason alone, Evans’ continued presence in the limelight is making the victim – the person the law is protecting – suffer further.
On the employment front, shrieking “HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO WORK AGAIN!” isn’t strictly true. Convicted rapists are prevented from doing a number of jobs, such as being a doctor, a teacher or a police officer. As a footballer who is a convicted rapist, would parents be happy to see the children who are mascots on the same pitch as someone the law has decreed a rapist? Football clubs do a lot of work in the community, so would any club that pays a wage to a rapist be able to do that with a clear conscience? Would any club who has fans who have been subject to sexual assaults be able to have a player who is guilty, by law, of exactly that? It is for these reasons that Ched Evans isn’t a normal case and shouldn’t be treated as one. That said, it is a matter of opinion, rather than a matter of law.
WELL! OTHER SPORTS STARS HAVE DONE BAD THINGS! WHY SINGLE CHED EVANS OUT?
Of course, there have been other convicted criminals doing high profile jobs. However, those decisions may have been wrong, which means that the bad decision of yesterday don’t give a green light to do them now. Again, if Evans’ appeal is successful, then there’s a different conversation to be had.
EITHER WAY! I BELIEVE IN REHABILITATING CRIMINALS – DON’T YOU?
Ched Evans has consistently not shown any remorse for what has happened. There’s a website that is hounding the victim, which Evans has failed to condemn. Rehabilitation starts with the criminal realising what they’ve done and/or admitting guilt. Let us assume Ched Evans didn’t think he’d done anything wrong and then realises that, actually, he did. That’s when rehabilitation starts. You don’t just do a course and get to be a professional footballer again.
The fact is, the law found him guilty and he need to take some responsibility for what he’s done and, for some of the things his fans have done. He’s shown zero understanding of the situation and, until he does, then we can start looking at what he can do with his life next. More to the point, rehabilitation doesn’t mean that you get to carry on as normal, like you did before. Evans could be rehabilitated and never play professional football again, because rehabilitation isn’t about getting you back into your old job. Until he’s been rehabilitated, there’s a chance he could re-offend. So, until he’s learned about consent, the weight of his actions and what he’s actually been charged of by a court and a jury, only then can he start thinking about what job he’d like to do.
Saying sorry isn’t enough.
THE LAW IS AN ASS!
The jury found Ched Evans guilty of rape. That’s all we have. Whether or not you agree with the British legal system is a different debate to the one regarding Ched Evans playing professional football again. A jury heard the full details of what happened and the verdict was that Ched Evans raped a woman. If you have reached a different verdict, that is irrelevant. Many people defending him have an axe to grind, when the fact is, they inevitably wouldn’t be happy working with a convicted rapist or if a convicted rapist worked with one of their loved-ones. Concerning the latter, that is what is being debated here.
When he came to pass sentence the judge said: “…. [the complainant] was in no position to form a capacity to consent to sexual intercourse, and you [Evans], when you arrived, must have realised that.”
The court papers say: “That accurately reflected the way in which the verdict should be interpreted. No force had been used on the complainant and no injury had been caused in the course of the rape. But the long-term psychological consequences to her could not be ignored. The judge took the view that they were not lessened by the fact that she had no direct recollection of the events.”
Posted: 5th, January 2015 | In: Reviews, Sports | Comments (2)
18 Cracking Photos Of An FA Cup Institution: The Tin-Foil FA Cup
On Pies: 18 Cracking Photos Of An FA Cup Institution: The Tin-Foil FA Cup:
It was most pleasing to see a healthy smattering of tin-foil FA Cups in the terraces this past third round weekend, proving that the FA Cup as a footballing folklore institution is not quite dead on its feet yet.
We love ourselves a good cardboard FA Cup effigy – it soothes our mortal souls – so lets get started with what might just be the first ever documented appearance…
Funny Foreigners Balls: Manchester City’s Pelligrini will always be wrong
Seven minutes into Manchester City’s FA Cup tie with Sheffiueld Wednesday, former England footballer Trevor Sinclair told BBC viewers:
“It’s refreshing to hear a foreign manager like Manuel Pellegrini say he wants to win the FA Cup. You look at the depth of City’s squad and it would be rude for them not to take it seriously. If City are mentally right then they will get through this tie.”
Oh, those funny foreigners. Let’s see if they care about winning the FA Cup:
2000 Gianluca Vialli Italy Chelsea
2001 Gérard Houllier France
2002 Arsène Wenger France
2003 Arsène Wenger France
2004 Alex Ferguson Scotland
2005 Arsène Wenger France
2006 Rafael Benítez Spain
2007 José Mourinho Portugal
2008 Harry Redknapp England
2009 Guus Hiddink Netherlands
2010 Carlo Ancelotti Italy
2011 Roberto Mancini Italy
2012 Roberto Di Matteo Italy
2013 Roberto Martínez Spain
2014 Arsène Wenger France
Scots teams aren’t involved in the FA Cup. So. Only one Englishman has ‘bothered’ to win the thing this Century.
PS: This past weekend, Premier League managers Harry Redknapp (QPR) and Steve Bruce (Hull) fielded weakened sides. Both lost. Both Bruce and Redknapp are English.
Manchester City Transfer Balls: Ross Barkley for £45m, £200m Messi and 8 other news faces
Transfer Balls looks at players being linked to Manchester City in the January sale season. Rumour, speculation and downright balls are presented as fact by the mainstream media. So far this January, the media experts have told us that following players are all on their way to City:
Ross Barkley:
Ross Barkley could be about to light up the January transfer window and become the record English signing in the process, according to reports. It is understood that Everton are willing to consider selling their star, possibly for as much as £60m, in order to fund a general strengthening of their squad. According to reports, Roberto Martinez is willing to listen to offers over £45m for Barkley, as he looks to avoid slipping down the table and into a relegation battle.
Links to said “reports”: zero.
Lionel Messi:
Daily Star: “Man City remain hopeful of beating Chelsea to Lionel Messi in INCREDIBLE £200m deal”
Incredible!
Christian Benteke:
The Sun: “Manchester City are plotting a swoop for Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke, 24”
Lacazette and Fekir:
Daily Express: “Man City plot DOUBLE SWOOP to beat Arsenal and Liverpool to Lyon stars Lacazette and Fekir MANCHESTER CITY are looking to beat Liverpool to Alexandre Lacazette and Arsenal to Nabil Fekir.”
Bozhidar Kraev:
The Guardian: “Levski Sofia’s Bozhidar Kraev arrives for Manchester City trial”
Dennis Praet:
Daily Mail: “Manchester City are eying a deal for Anderlecht midfielder Dennis Praet, 20”
Joaquin Correa:
Daily Mail: “Manchester City join Chelsea in race to sign £8m Argentina midfielder Joaquin Correa”
Wilfried Bony:
Daily Mirror: “Manchester City eye transfer of Swansea’s Wilfried Bony for a bumper £25million fee”
Daily Star: “City are reportedly leading the £20m chase for Bony’s signature, but may face competition from current league leaders Chelsea, who are also keeping tabs on him.”
Julian Draxler:
Daily Star: “Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini wants to sign Schalke midfielder Julian Draxler, although the German side want £25m for the 21-year-old.”
No-one:
Daily Mail: “Manchester City will NOT be adding to their squad in January due to Financial Fair Play sanctions, says Manuel Pellegrini”
Running total: players in: 8.
Posted: 5th, January 2015 | In: Manchester City, Sports | Comment
Chelsea Transfer Balls: Raphael Varne for £20m, Pogba and Messi for £277 and more desperate reporting
Chelsea Transfer Balls: a look at players being linked to Chelsea in the media. Facts don’t matter. This is about the rumour and utter balls being presented as fact:
Raphael Varne:
Daily Express: “Chelsea and Manchester United have been told they will have to pay £20m if they want to sign Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane, 21.”
Number of quotes from player, agent or club: zero.
Sergio Busquets:
Daily Star: “Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets, 26, is set to disappoint Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United by signing a new deal with the Spanish side.”
Number of quotes from Chelsea now or ever expressing an interest in Buquets: zero.
Andrej Kramaric:
Daily Star: “Chelsea are set to complete the £4m signing of Croatia forward Andrej Kramaric from HNK Rijeka.”
Number of quotes from Chelsea: zero.
Paul Pogba:
Daily Express: “Chelsea Transfer News: £277m DOUBLE bid for Messi and Pogba,”
Paul Pogba should have his own rumour mill.
Number of quotes from Cheslea: zero.
Running total: Add them to these five new faces, and Chelsea sign 8 players in the Transfer Window.
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/550187/Arsenal-Transfer-News-Wenger-Cech-Messi-Pogba-Schneiderlin
Transfer Balls: Manchester United sign Lloris from Spurs in 2019
The Sun leads its sports sections with an exclusive. No, make that an hyperbolic “Mega Exclusive”. Spurs are selling their best player:
It’s the January transfer window. So. Hugo Lloris, for it is he, is off this month?
TOTTENHAM are set to cash in on £25million-rated Hugo Lloris. The French No 1 will be allowed to leave for a Champions League club in the summer — even if Spurs seal a top-four spot of their own.
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Posted: 5th, January 2015 | In: manchester united, Sports, Spurs | Comments (3)
Transfer Balls: Paul Pogba heads to Arsenal for £37m less than Manchester United paid
Transfer Balls – a regular look at footballers being linked to the big clubs. There is rumour of Juventus and France star Paul Pogba.
The Daily Express says Pogba is hgeaidng to Manchester United. The fee… £77m!
Paul Pogba heading to Man Utd for £77m as Juventus find replacement in Marco Verratti
The Daily Star says Pogba is worth £70m. And he’s heading to all of the five richest English clubs. It’s a Transfer Balls Full House:
Several sources in Italy have suggested Premier League giants Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea are eager to snap up the 21-year-old, who joined the Old Lady in 2012.
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Posted: 4th, January 2015 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, manchester united, Sports | Comment
