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.”
Nice story about a good young player coming through and Mourinho somehow makes it all about him as usual.
@Joseph Bloggs: Or the one quote selected by the media is the quote by Mourinho that addresses how the media portray him
@Joseph Bloggs: no Joseph he praises the lad FIRST and then makes it about plebs like you …
@Johnny Bravo: Me? You must struggle with the written word Johnny, he clearly makes it about himself.
@Joseph Bloggs: see my comment below.
I heard something about Jose recently. Apparently he was being interviewed after a game and basically he was being a complete pr**k, walked out on the interview and all. Then, when the camera stopped rolling he walked over to the reporter and was happy as Larry, laughing and joking and apologising. It’s all a game, lads. He does it because he thinks if people are talking about Jose, they’re not talking about *insert name here* and how they’re playing shite. It’s an excellent managerial approach. It also creates the siege mentality that winning teams tend to have.
Having said all that…he’s a massive pain in the hole.
@Lurfic: Ha ha, nice one Lurfic :-)
@Lurfic: Think this was actually RTÉ’s Darragh Maloney! Or at least he has a similar yarn.
Still awaiting his Premier League debut? He has two premier league appearancs to his name.
@Brian Murray: yeah they have that wrong , maybe meant he’s waiting his first premier league start ??
@Pizyco: maybe
Remember when Darron Gibson was like this…
Dom solanke that is, now at liverpool and played about 10 minutes for chelsea good job jose