Ched Evans is now expected to join English League One club Oldham. Photo: Martin Rickett/PA Wire

Ched Evans’s return to football is controversial because the player has not taken responsibility for his actions, according to a social worker who worked with sex offenders.

Andrew Azzopardi said sex offenders should be encouraged to adopt the “good life model”, which included finding and maintaining a regular job.

But accepting responsibility was an important first step in the re-integration process that included apologising and showing remorse, he added.

“I am not saying a footballer like Ched Evans should not play football anymore but taking responsibility for his actions is important, more so when his status as a footballer makes him a role model.”

Footballers are role models whether they like it or not because the status comes with the fame and glory that accompanies the game, Mr Azzopardi noted.

He said the player did not seem to have assumed responsibility for his actions and did not apologise to the victim, which gave the impression that footballers abided by a different set of rules.

“Sexual offences cannot be treated as if they are a minor crime just because the individual happens to be a footballer,” he said.

Sexual offences cannot be treated as a minor crime

Ched Evans, a former Sheffield United player, was jailed after being convicted of raping a 19-year-old woman.

He was conditionally released from jail last October mid-way into his five-year prison term.

Sheffield United had to drop plans to re-engage the player after a public outcry in England.

But controversy ensued after Maltese football club Hibernians was reportedly interested in signing up Mr Evans for the rest of the season, a move that caused a media storm.

Although plans were scuppered when the UK justice minister declared Mr Evans could not work abroad in light of his crime, the controversy sparked a debate on whether sex offenders should be given a second chance.

The controversy put the Prime Minister at odds with Justice Minister Owen Bonnici.

While the Prime Minister asked Hibernians to think hard about the consequences of their actions, Dr Bonnici said Mr Evans should be given a second chance, a view shared by Opposition home affairs spokesman Jason Azzopardi, who is also Hibernians honorary president.

Mr Evans is now expected to join English League One club Oldham with Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive Gordon Taylor saying the club would be holding a press conference today.

The Ched Evans controversy will be debated on TV discussion programme Times Talk tomorrow at 6.45pm on TVM.