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PFA hopes Ched Evans gets a chance to return to football with another club PFA hopes Ched Evans gets a chance to return to football with another club
(about 1 hour later)
The Professional Footballers’ Association is still hopeful that convicted rapist Ched Evans will be given an opportunity to return to the game after Sheffield United withdrew their offer to let him use their training facilities. The Professional Footballers’ Association is still hopeful that the convicted rapist Ched Evans will be given an opportunity to return to the game after Sheffield United withdrew their offer to let him use their training facilities.
The League One club announced on Thursday night that they had severed their ties with Evans after the decision to allow him to train with the club was met with widespread opposition and led to the resignation of four club patrons.The League One club announced on Thursday night that they had severed their ties with Evans after the decision to allow him to train with the club was met with widespread opposition and led to the resignation of four club patrons.
Olympic heptathlon gold medal winner Jessica Ennis-Hill also asked that the club remove her name from one of the stands at Bramall Lane if the club opted to re-sign Evans. The Olympic heptathlon gold medal winner Jessica Ennis-Hill also asked that the club remove her name from one of the stands at Bramall Lane if the club opted to re-sign Evans.
The PFA had initially asked the Blades to allow Evans to train with them, and said in a statement on Friday: “We note Sheffield United’s decision to retract the offer they made to Ched Evans for him to return to training with the club.The PFA had initially asked the Blades to allow Evans to train with them, and said in a statement on Friday: “We note Sheffield United’s decision to retract the offer they made to Ched Evans for him to return to training with the club.
“It is not surprising given the subsequent delay in his return as the matter was debated and understandably strong opinions were aired. We fully understand and respect the opposing views to Ched’s return to Sheffield United and clearly part of the issue related to him returning to the club he was previously with at the time of his imprisonment.“It is not surprising given the subsequent delay in his return as the matter was debated and understandably strong opinions were aired. We fully understand and respect the opposing views to Ched’s return to Sheffield United and clearly part of the issue related to him returning to the club he was previously with at the time of his imprisonment.
“With that in mind, it may ultimately be of benefit to both parties to move on and for Ched to look for a fresh start at a different club.“With that in mind, it may ultimately be of benefit to both parties to move on and for Ched to look for a fresh start at a different club.
“We maintain our general position that the courts determine punishments and a return to society and a contribution to the community through employment is a key element of rehabilitation.“We maintain our general position that the courts determine punishments and a return to society and a contribution to the community through employment is a key element of rehabilitation.
“We do not agree that society should impose different rules for footballers which go beyond the position of the law. In that regard, it is hoped that Ched will be given an opportunity at another club to return to the job he is trained to do.”“We do not agree that society should impose different rules for footballers which go beyond the position of the law. In that regard, it is hoped that Ched will be given an opportunity at another club to return to the job he is trained to do.”
Evans served half of a five-year prison sentence having been found guilty of rape in April 2012. He has always denied raping the woman, saying the sex was consensual, but was found guilty by a jury at Caernarfon Crown Court. Evans served half of a five-year prison sentence having been found guilty of rape in April 2012. He has always denied raping the woman, saying the sex was consensual, but was found guilty by a jury at Caernarfon crown court.
An appeal against his conviction was rejected by three judges at the Court of Appeal in 2012, while following his release from prison, he uploaded a video on his website protesting his innocence and vowed to clear his name. An appeal against his conviction was rejected by three judges at the court of appeal in 2012, though following his release from prison he uploaded a video on his website protesting his innocence and vowed to clear his name.