LONDON (AP) – He’s young, experienced and wants to play – but it looks like public opinion in Britain may prevent forward Ched Evans from ever resuming his professional soccer career.
Evans, 26, is out of prison after serving time for raping a 19-year-old woman in his hotel room in 2011. Yet public reaction to his possible return to the nation’s favorite sport is becoming more and more vehement.
The high-profile case raises questions about the role of rehabilitation and challenges conventional wisdom that a convicted criminal who has paid for his offense should be given a chance to work. The case is complicated by Evans’ lack of remorse – he insists he is innocent and has never apologized.
Oldham, an English team that plays in the country’s third-tier League One, is considering signing Evans but major sponsors Verlin and Mecca Bingo said Monday they will drop the team if he joins. Thousands have signed an online petition opposing his return.
“I agree he’s served his time but it’s a very serious crime,” said Kath Woodward, a professor of sociology at Britain’s Open University who deals extensively with sports issues. “Remorse would go some way toward ameliorating the situation. It’s very disappointing that clubs like Oldham are trying to get a reasonable player cheap. It shows the management of football (soccer) doesn’t understand the changing times.”