CONVICTED rapist Ched Evans will not be able to resume his professional football career overseas after it emerged he is effectively barred from working abroad as a sex offender on licence.
The UK Ministry of Justice yesterday said Evans would not be allowed to resume his playing career in a foreign country as strict controls imposed in Britain make it impractical for sex offenders to work abroad.
The conditions include getting permission to take up new jobs, having regular face-to-face meetings with probation officers and having to attend sex offender treatment programmes.
On Friday, Maltese side Hibernians announced they had offered the 26-year-old striker a deal for the remainder of the season, after he was rejected by English clubs.
But yesterday a Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "We are determined to have one of the toughest regimes in the world for managing sex offenders, to stop them re-offending and to protect victims.
"Probation officers must give permission for sex offenders on licence to take up new jobs and this includes ensuring they hold regular face-to-face meetings - this effectively rules out working abroad.
"The offenders will also be subject to strict conditions such as exclusion zones, non-contact orders and having to attend sex offender treatment programmes."
The statement came after Malta's prime minister Joseph Muscat warned Hibernians that their decision to offer a contract to Ched Evans risked damaging the country's reputation.
A tweet on the verified Twitter account of Muscat's office read: "Footballers are role models. Hibs' decision will define them and to an extent Malta. I hope [management] understand this clearly before a final decision."
The case of former Sheffield United player Evans, who was released from prison in October after serving half of a five-year sentence for raping a 19-year-old woman, has provoked huge controversy over his wish to return to the football field.
Evans was jailed in April 2012 for raping a woman in a hotel room in Rhyl, North Wales. The player denied the offence, saying the sex was consensual, but he was found guilty by a jury at Caernarfon Crown Court.
The former Wales international striker was initially given permission by Sheffield United to return to training with the club at the request of players' union the Professional Footballers Association. But following a backlash from the public, supporters, sponsors and patrons opposed to Evans's return - 160,000 people signed a petition against it - the club retracted the offer.
With the Ministry of Justice ruling out Evans working abroad, it looks unlikely he will ever play professional football again.
Hibernians had announced yesterday that they had offered a deal to the former Sheffield United and Wales striker for the remainder of the season. Club vice-president Stephen Vaughan said: "We are looking to secure the services of a top striker and Ched fits the bill.
"We've spoken to his agent and have offered a deal from now until the end of the season."
However, a spokesman for Evans was quoted as denying the player received a contract offer.
The news of Hibernian's interest in a deal attracted criticism on Twitter - although much of it was misdirected, forcing Scottish side Hibernian to tweet: "Just to clarify we are Hibs of Scotland and not Hibernians of Malta. Should that ever change we'll let you all know."
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