[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Niall

I can see that this is already a 7 page thread but I'm gonna throw my two pennies worth just because this interests me.

I don't think he should be allowed back on a pro football team considering this really. When you think of the fame and the money he'll receive and the support he'll get from people for getting back into football it just.. it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It's like the tacit assent from a large institution and vast swathe of people that this is their view on rape: so long as you spend a couple years in prison after forcing yourself on someone and traumatising them for life, we'll still love and adore you afterwards don't worry.

I just don't think he should be allowed that kind of privilege, fame and fortune after committing such a morally depraved act. Yes that might send a message about convicts in general but this is a crime that's particularly traumatising, and especially rife within society with violence against women being something at epidemic levels throughout the western world. Think of how the victims would feel if he becomes a pro footballer again, earning stupid amounts of money? It'll look like nothing more than society giving him a low-key thumbs up despite how he's ruined her life. It's not right, but then I suppose that's rape culture at work. Defend the rapist at the expense of the victim.

To play the Devil's Advocate though, if someone's served their sentence do they not have the right to carry on with their lives? If not then what's the point of sentencing someone in the first place? It shouldn't really matter whether someone is famous or not since, in the eyes of the law everyone should be equal when it comes to crime and punishment.

I'm still pretty conflicted about it tbh. It's a very difficult topic.