We need a striker, would you accept Ched Evans?

[ReturnOfFF]

So he has now came out and done what I thought he should an say sorry for it even if he is innocent.

 

[Pubey]

The statement in full. It's good to see him distance himself from his 'online supporters'

The PFA wishes to clarify its position regarding Ched Evans following recent media reports.

Our previous statements are set out below and our support for Ched remains the same.

We have had some discussions with Oldham Athletic regarding the interest they expressed in signing Ched, although we feel it is important to make clear that, contrary to what has been reported, we were not ‘driving’ any deal. As we understand it, the club and player were in discussions and contact was then made with the PFA as matters progressed given the particular circumstances of this situation and we were simply being asked to publicly reiterate our support for the club in signing him. Despite being ready to offer this from the outset, we were asked to delay whilst discussions between the club and player continued, and we were disappointed to see over the course of this week, comments being made which we feel mischaracterise our limited role in this matter.

The PFA’s position remains the same, as we have expressed previously, that any club which decides to sign him would receive our support.

We fully recognise that this is a delicate and emotive case and entirely respect that there are opposing views. However, we always felt it was important that Ched made some further comment regarding his current situation and on that basis, he has asked that we include his comments below:

“I am grateful for the support of the PFA in helping me try to return to football and continue my career.

Upon legal advice, I was told not to discuss the events in question. This silence has been misinterpreted as arrogance and I would like to state that this could not be further from the truth.

I do remain limited at present by what I can say due to the ongoing referral to the Criminal Cases Review Commission and whilst I continue to maintain my innocence, I wish to make it clear that I wholeheartedly apologise for the effects that night in Rhyl has had on many people, not least the woman concerned.

Finally, it has been claimed that those using social media in an abusive and vindictive way towards this woman are supporters of mine. I wish to make it clear that these people are not my supporters and I condemn their actions entirely and will continue to do so.”

Why oh why couldn't have have said this months ago?

 

[Ricey]

So he has now came out and done what I thought he should an say sorry for it even if he is innocent.

Do you have a link to it?

 

[Another Surrey Shrimper]

:hilarious:

Nothing has been deleted.

I struggle to see Oldham fans stooping to the level of threatening rape - however it's not beyond the realms of possibility. I also struggle to see the people who don't want Ched Evans to play for Oldham (or football in general) doing that either. Mainly because both those groups don't want Evans to play because they don't agree with a rapist playing football - they are sympathetic to rape victims, so it seems strange for these people to start threatening rape.

I think the most likely people to do that are the online trolls who frequently abuse people and threaten them for no reason. They use whatever 'cause' they can find (Ched Evans, Collymore, Beard, Gamergate) as a channel for their misogyny, racism, general c*ntishness.

Stella Creasy gets Twitter threats on a regular basis it seems. And she wears a Boba Fett suit on her avatar so I wouldn't mess.

 

[londonblue]

As a slight aside, why do some people make these threats via Twitter (for example) when we know fairly surely they wouldn't threaten face-to-face? Is it the anonymity?

People, like footballers, aren't always blessed with intelligence! It really is baffling.

 

[MilkeySUFC]

The statement in full. It's good to see him distance himself from his 'online supporters'



Why oh why couldn't have have said this months ago?

Because, as he says, he was told not to.

 

[Ayrshire Blue]

As a slight aside, why do some people make these threats via Twitter (for example) when we know fairly surely they wouldn't threaten face-to-face? Is it the anonymity?

You don't get hundreds and thousands of RT's and favourites face to face

 

[londonblue]

Oh come off it, let's not get daft. I fail to see why you're getting so angry.

We don't know who the threats were by and hopefully the police will track them down.

Just to try and be even clearer, my point is that there's been a group of trolls (many who you could call "Ched Evans Supporters") on the internet who have consistently hounded and named the victim who Ched Evans raped. It wouldn't be surprising if some of those people are the same trolls who seem to 'professionally' abuse other people - like Collymore, Beard etc. There's a nasty twitter/reddit/4chan underworld that pops up in situations like this (the leak of celebrity photos, the whole #gamergate thing) and trolls latch onto this to cause even more hurt and threaten people.

If it was one of these trolls (Ched Evans Supporter or not) who decided to find some addresses and threaten people with rape, I wouldn't be surprised. I agree it would be unlikely to be someone who really wants the best for Ched Evans (a legitimate supporter of him).

I'm not angry. It takes a lot more than a couple of misguided and potentially libellous posts to make me angry. However, I find it inexcusable for someone to try and deflect the blame in such a way.

You're perfectly entitled to your views on Ched Evans, and whether or not he should be able to find another club, but you are not entitled (IMO) to accept that getting what you want is OK however it is achieved. In this instance the end doesn't justify the means in the way your posts seem to imply.

 

[Pubey]

Because, as he says, he was told not to.

He did a video statement which should have been much more like this more recent statement.

 

[Another Surrey Shrimper]

I'm not angry. It takes a lot more than a couple of misguided and potentially libellous posts to make me angry. However, I find it inexcusable for someone to try and deflect the blame in such a way.

You're perfectly entitled to your views on Ched Evans, and whether or not he should be able to find another club, but you are not entitled (IMO) to accept that getting what you want is OK however it is achieved. In this instance the end doesn't justify the means in the way your posts seem to imply.

I have a lot of time for your posts but I think you have got the wrong end of the stick on this and I'd suggest you both agree that it's a misunderstanding. If you'll forgive me sticking my oar in.

 

[Pubey]

I'm not angry. It takes a lot more than a couple of misguided and potentially libellous posts to make me angry. However, I find it inexcusable for someone to try and deflect the blame in such a way.

You're perfectly entitled to your views on Ched Evans, and whether or not he should be able to find another club, but you are not entitled (IMO) to accept that getting what you want is OK however it is achieved. In this instance the end doesn't justify the means in the way your posts seem to imply.

What is potentially libellous about saying that Evans' supporters maybe be behind the twitter rape threats to the families of Oldham board members? As I've since clarified, I mean specifically twitter trolls who use Ched Evans as an excuse to be misogynistic. Not his family and friends who continue to stand by him, and those who genuinely think he's innocent and want him to return to football.

Ched Evans has now (finally) distanced himself from those people.

Your last para just doesn't make sense, and might be why we're going around in circles. What are you actually accusing me of? I think rape threats are wrong and disgusting and never excusable, and the police should do their best to find the people behind them and charge them. I don't think they are ok, in this case or any case. I don't understand why I'm having to clarify that, but for your benefit I am.

You only have to look on comments and twitter replies to news articles to see that Oldham fans, feminists, social justice warriors, Ched Evans haters etc are already getting blamed for these rape threats. But here I am getting stick because I think it might be twitter trolls.

 

[Another Surrey Shrimper]

Because, as he says, he was told not to.

Lots of people have said all along that he should on day 1 have released a statement saying there is an appeal so he can make no other comment. Then he should have got his legal team to remove any Internet site that seem to be out to promote him in any way. This is too little too late.

 

[londonblue]

What is potentially libellous about saying that Evans' supporters maybe be behind the twitter rape threats to the families of Oldham board members? As I've since clarified, I mean specifically twitter trolls who use Ched Evans as an excuse to be misogynistic. Not his family and friends who continue to stand by him, and those who genuinely think he's innocent and want him to return to football.

Ched Evans has now (finally) distanced himself from those people.

Your last para just doesn't make sense, and might be why we're going around in circles. What are you actually accusing me of? I think rape threats are wrong and disgusting and never excusable, and the police should do their best to find the people behind them and charge them. I don't think they are ok, in this case or any case. I don't understand why I'm having to clarify that, but for your benefit I am.

You only have to look on comments and twitter replies to news articles to see that Oldham fans, feminists, social justice warriors, Ched Evans haters etc are already getting blamed for these rape threats. But here I am getting stick because I think it might be twitter trolls.

It's the bit where you say Evans' supporters maybe be behind the twitter rape threats to the families of Oldham board members.

 

[C'mon you Shrimpers]

I think if one thing is certain about this is that Ched Evans and his advisors (he should have them as like a lot of footballers he is as thick as the proverbial) should have at the outset appeared contrite whilst saying he is appealing, said he respects his accuser and distance himself from any "supporters" who want to run a witch hunt against the woman. He did come over as an arrogant prick in his video. When you're in a hole stop digging is useful advice.

 

[Pubey]

It's the bit where you say Evans' supporters maybe be behind the twitter rape threats to the families of Oldham board members.

Which I clarified in about 5 separate posts, including the one you quoted. Keep up. As AAS mentions, I think you've genuinely got the wrong end the stick somewhere. Maybe we should drop this and call it a 1-1 draw.


Something on another forum made me genuinely LOL.

"So will Ched Evans be a free agent on the next Football Manager update?!"

 

[mrsblue]

Which I clarified in about 5 separate posts, including the one you quoted. Keep up. As AAS mentions, I think you've genuinely got the wrong end the stick somewhere. Maybe we should drop this and call it a 1-1 draw.


Something on another forum made me genuinely LOL.

"So will Ched Evans be a free agent on the next Football Manager update?!"

On another forum,how many do you frequent every day:hilarious:

 

[sufclee]

The statement in full. It's good to see him distance himself from his 'online supporters'



Why oh why couldn't have have said this months ago?

Because the reality that he might not get a job back in football is hitting him smack bang in the face, last throw of the dice is to apologize in the hope that public feeling then softens a tad towards him and there is not quite as much hostility towards him getting a club.

 

[Pubey]

So no threats made to Oldham board and sponsors, other than low level abuse on twitter.

https://twitter.com/david_conn/status/553187082450264064

This whole issue just gets seedier and seedier.

 

[number11]

I agree, the statement smacks of desperation and is too little too late. He may be being advised badly but I fail to see how condemning his vile 'supporters' (who let's not forget are getting information from a source at least very close to Evans (and at the risk of incurring LondonBlues wrath dare I suggest maybe from Evans himself...) would jeopardise his appeal.

If he thought the supporters site and treatment of the victim was abhorrent I'm sure it wouldn't have taken much to pursuade his legal team along those lines, so I am going to suggest that all his actions since coming out portray him as a nasty self obsessed man and I'm glad he has lost yet another chance to return to the game.

 

[MrB]

Looks like he is signing after all (POOR TASTE ALERT!!):

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