*Official* English Football Season 2014-15

[GIMH]

I know how I discovered the sport and it wasn't on TV

In seriousness though, the same problem exists there, especially at the top level.

 

[sledger]

Tbh the reason I lost interest in cricket was because it stopped being shown on terrestrial tv.

 

[GIMH]

Which shows that some good did come of it

 

[sledger]

Cricket's not been as good since then anyway.

Edit: Apart from the period between November 2010 and January 2011.

 

[Cabinet96]

And the 2011 summer.

 

[sledger]

And the 2011 summer.

Ah yes, but India being humiliated is something I enjoy on a higher level than anything sporting.

 

[GIMH]

Bruce questions Evans conviction - BBC Sport

Jesus

 

[cpr]

Interestingly I was chatting with my sister last night. She said she'd taken an interest in the case due to the media side of things, so she decided to read through the official court documents available to take her mind of other things (see last months 'ruined day' post about her best friend dying). She's not a complete freak, she has a law degree hence why this sort of thing interests her

She reckons Evans has got a more than decent case on appeal - she was implying (in her usual patronising tone) that the case really hinges on whether Evans could reasonably assume the woman was consenting or not. Her interpretation is the woman may well have said yes at the time, or not shown disinterest/turned him down at least - if he's been told 'Come to room X theres a woman here' and he turned up and did what he did, what point did she indicate she was not happy with the situation? Although she may regret it, and feel disgusted the next day, how was Evans to know that would be her reaction? Although the woman rightly feels used/abused/violated by whats happened, was there any indication to Evans that this could be the case?

Obviously I'm not sure myself, as I've not looked at any of this in detail, and only seen whats in the press (though I've said my piece previously), so interested in other peoples thoughts? Would be an interesting situation if it is overturned and many a politician/celebrity have spent months telling him he's vile for not apologising when he's found innocent...

 

[fredfertang]

I'm surprised that Evans was convicted, but the fact he was just goes to show what a **** he must be. In my experience juries are extremely reluctant to convict in cases like this, but as far as I can see the case properly went to the jury and they were entitled to find him guilty - the fact that he doesn't like the jury's decision is quite simply tough - if he wants to appeal he's going to have to find a point of law, and there ain't one

 

[grecian]

Interestingly I was chatting with my sister last night. She said she'd taken an interest in the case due to the media side of things, so she decided to read through the official court documents available to take her mind of other things (see last months 'ruined day' post about her best friend dying). She's not a complete freak, she has a law degree hence why this sort of thing interests her

She reckons Evans has got a more than decent case on appeal - she was implying (in her usual patronising tone) that the case really hinges on whether Evans could reasonably assume the woman was consenting or not. Her interpretation is the woman may well have said yes at the time, or not shown disinterest/turned him down at least - if he's been told 'Come to room X theres a woman here' and he turned up and did what he did, what point did she indicate she was not happy with the situation? Although she may regret it, and feel disgusted the next day, how was Evans to know that would be her reaction? Although the woman rightly feels used/abused/violated by whats happened, was there any indication to Evans that this could be the case?

Obviously I'm not sure myself, as I've not looked at any of this in detail, and only seen whats in the press (though I've said my piece previously), so interested in other peoples thoughts? Would be an interesting situation if it is overturned and many a politician/celebrity have spent months telling him he's vile for not apologising when he's found innocent...

if he wins his appeal fair enough, that will be decided in a court-of-law as the first sentence was. People have every right to condemn him as a convicted rapist, they can stop afterwards. No need to apologize I'm sure he'll get well compensated in many ways. It wouldn't be the condemners fault it would be the Courts, they should and will say sorry in that case.

Bruce should shut up on the case, why is he commenting? In the end it's an horribly squalid affair all round, I wish it would just go away.

 

[cpr]

I'm surprised that Evans was convicted, but the fact he was just goes to show what a **** he must be. In my experience juries are extremely reluctant to convict in cases like this, but as far as I can see the case properly went to the jury and they were entitled to find him guilty - the fact that he doesn't like the jury's decision is quite simply tough - if he wants to appeal he's going to have to find a point of law, and there ain't one

Funnily enough, I've heard that he's not liked within the game either, guess he does just come across as a ****. His legal team must think whatever he's digging up might have substance in his favour, surely they wouldn't let him hang himself out over this if there was no hope, when he could've just mumbled an apology earlier and found a lower league club

if he wins his appeal fair enough, that will be decided in a court-of-law as the first sentence was. People have every right to condemn him as a convicted rapist, they can stop afterwards. No need to apologize I'm sure he'll get well compensated in many ways. It wouldn't be the condemners fault it would be the Courts, they should and will say sorry in that case.

My unease is that those people saying 'he must apologise, he's vile for not doing so' are jumping the gun a bit, the man is still fighting his innocence in court (admittedly very much down the line), I think they should wait until that's finished before insisting that he's 1000000% guilty and needs to accept it. I've no people condemning him as a convicted rapist, he is, but saying 'He now has to move on an apologise for his actions' before the final final say on his guilts in.... Just makes me uneasy, especially as most are opening their mouth on something they don't need to.

 

[Cevno]

Bruce questions Evans conviction - BBC Sport

Jesus

He is entitled to his opinion tbf and it wasn't a black and white case by any means.

 

[Uppercut]

Stop being dense. Did anyone say he wasn't entitled to his opinion, or that it's a black and white case? Fact is no one needs renowned legal eagle Steve Bruce QC wading hamfistedly into a three-year-old criminal court case about the rape of a nineteen-year-old girl.

 

[BoyBrumby]

My unease is that those people saying 'he must apologise, he's vile for not doing so' are jumping the gun a bit, the man is still fighting his innocence in court (admittedly very much down the line), I think they should wait until that's finished before insisting that he's 1000000% guilty and needs to accept it. I've no people condemning him as a convicted rapist, he is, but saying 'He now has to move on an apologise for his actions' before the final final say on his guilts in.... Just makes me uneasy, especially as most are opening their mouth on something they don't need to.

See, I don't have a problem with people saying that.

If he believes he's innocent of rape, then that's his prerogative, but his behaviour is, at the very best, that of a scumbag ***ual predator.

An apology for what he did that stops short of an admission of being guilty of rape seems a reasonable ask to me.

If he genuinely believes what he did was ok then he's a poor quality human being.

 

[fredfertang]

See, I don't have a problem with people saying that.

If he believes he's innocent of rape, then that's his prerogative, but his behaviour is, at the very best, that of a scumbag ***ual predator.

An apology for what he did that stops short of an admission of being guilty of rape seems a reasonable ask to me.

If he genuinely believes what he did was ok then he's a poor quality human being.

I have no doubt at all that it never occurred to Evans that his victim wasn't consenting and on the Pre 2003 law that would have been enough to secure his acquittal. Fortunately and not before time the ***ual Offences Act 2003 criminalised that age old alpha male practice of getting a woman so pissed you could take advantage - Steve Bruce ought to click on that link under his opinions explaining what the law is and then go back to try and work out how to keep that dreadful team of his in the Premier League rather than spout such bollocks - after all he's a role model too isn't he?

As to where Evans is going with this appeal I'd love to know the answer to that one - I really don't see how a point of law arises - I wonder if his fabled Sam Spade has gone out with the victim, wearing a wire, got her pissed and managed to get her to say something along the lines of she can now remember and she did let him? I can't think of anything else

But on the matter in hand its all bollocks anyway - he's done his time and should be free to work and now he's produced that apology (and an offer of an ex gratia payment to his victim might be a good idea) then I hope the next club his name is linked to sign him

 

[Uppercut]

But on the matter in hand its all bollocks anyway - he's done his time and should be free to work and now he's produced that apology (and an offer of an ex gratia payment to his victim might be a good idea) then I hope the next club his name is linked to sign him

I don't agree with this. If football is an industry at all it's an entertainment industry, and being a publicly convicted rapist makes it almost impossible for Evans to do a competent job of it. I think he needs to find a new career- the public hate him too much for professional football to ever be an option again.

Maybe people are wrong to hate him so much? I'm not sure. By historical standards we have an extremely soft criminal justice system, and on balance I think that's how it should be. But if, for rehabilitative reasons, we're going to give rapists a much lesser punishment than most people feel they deserve, we can't really expect the public to be very forthcoming in welcoming them back into society. Particularly when he doesn't seem to have been rehabilitated at all.

 

[fredfertang]

I don't agree with this. If football is an industry at all it's an entertainment industry, and being a publicly convicted rapist makes it almost impossible for Evans to do a competent job of it. I think he needs to find a new career- the public hate him too much for professional football to ever be an option again.

Maybe people are wrong to hate him so much? I'm not sure. By historical standards we have an extremely soft criminal justice system, and on balance I think that's how it should be. But if, for rehabilitative reasons, we're going to give rapists a much lesser punishment than most people feel they deserve, we can't really expect the public to be very forthcoming in welcoming them back into society. Particularly when he doesn't seem to have been rehabilitated at all.

You undoubtedly express the view of the majority - would you have a different opinion if on release he had shown real contrition and remorse? and if not what if he had done so at the outset and pleaded guilty?

 

[BoyBrumby]

It'd certainly be a start.

That Plymouth keeper (whose name escapes me) who ploughed into the back of another car whilst bladdered, killing two kiddies, held his hands up and was re-hired relatively social media furore-free when he was released.

If Evans had made a proper mea culpa and offered to make a sizeable donation to a rape crisis charity on his release I think we'd have seen a very different reaction.

By every account I've read the victim in this has had her life ruined (even to the point pf having to change her identity) and there's a still extant "Ched Evans is innocent" website that is pretty hideous reading (not that I'd dignify it with a visit).

 

[GIMH]

She's changed her identity five times apparently, and Evans' team is behind that website

I'll hold my hands up - when I first looked through the site, while still not doubting his act was a dog act that night, I had some sympathy that maybe he wasn't guilty. Then I read the case notes etc and realised how contrived his site is.

Worst part of this whole ordeal is seeing blokes all over Facebook saying 'what else did she go back to the hotel for, a cuddle?' Ignoring the fact that firstly she never went back with Evans anyway and that secondly going to someone's home/hotel room doesn't equate to consent.

 

[GIMH]

Lol clear pen that