THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION chairman Greg Dyke last night stumbled through an interview on the BBC’s Newsnight where he said that the issue of convicted rapist Ched Evans returning to football was “not an important one”.
Dyke, who had been asked onto the programme to discuss FIFA’s report into alleged corruption involving the Russian and Qatari bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, was asked at the end of his interview whether he thought it was right for Sheffield United to invite Evans back to train with them after his release from prison.
“I don’t really want to talk about Ched Evans. I think it’s a much more complicated story than to have in five minutes here,” said Dyke.
“Here’s the straightforward question: are people who go to prison entitled to come out of prison and to try to rebuild their lives or aren’t they? Or is what they’ve done so bad because they’re in an industry where their image is important? And that’s the dilemma. It’s a dilemma and it’s not clear cut.”
When Dyke was asked by presenter Laura Kuenssberg what his opinion was on the matter he responded by saying it was not an important issue before clumsily correcting himself.
He replied to the question:
It’s not an important issue. It is an important issue but not in terms of what we, we’re here, and what you asked me to come on and talk about.
The former Director-General of the BBC was also asked about the criticisms in the report of England’s bid for the 2018 tournament. The 67-year-old emphasised the point that he was not head of the FA at the time but said “I think that the whole of the way football is operated at the that level is suspect and has been for many years.”
Dyke was also questioned about the limited edition Parmigiani watches worth more than £16,000 which were given as a gift to the 28 officials on FIFA’s ruling executive committee at the World Cup in Brazil but reiterated that he intends to donate it to a breast cancer charity.
“The watch has been sitting in my office ever since,” he said.
“We’re not here to talk about the watch but we could do. I’ve given it to a breast cancer charity in this country and Fifa are still arguing about whether I can do that.”
Asked if he had actually donated the watch, he added: “That’s what I intend to do.”
It’s a disgrace if he doesn’t play again. He’s done his time and should be allowed continue his career. prison is for rehabilitation and if he wants to continue is career he should be allowed to with no interference. Why is there a problem with him but not other famous people that stuff like this has happened to?
You’re obsessively commenting on this story, why?
Because I can comment my opinion on a website I like commenting on. I also comment on most articles on here premier league or Ireland related because I enjoy commenting and seeing other people’s opinions. Why do I even need a reason to express my opinion?
A lot of the same people commented on the pistorius trial. Why didn’t you ask them why they were commenting?
Try getting a normal job as a convicted rapist Dylan. Would you like a teacher, taxi driver etc to be a convicted rapist ?
That’s a fair point I understand that but if they are rehabilitated and want to lead a normal life they shouldn’t be allowed to be stopped in my opinion.
Don’t you have anything better to do than repeatedly defend a convicted rapist? And before you start crowing, I have read up on the case.
I just don’t understand how he was convicted when his friend wasn’t.
Was he rehabilitated ? Is there some kind of test for this ?