Eleanor Laws, a KC specialising in sexual offences, reflects on her latest case involving a professional footballer, Benjamin Mendy. Despite Mendy’s acquittal of rape and attempted rape charges, his lifestyle raised questions about the moral and legal guidance provided to players. Laws, known for her involvement in high-profile trials and authorship of the Sexual Offences Referencer, expresses concern about the impact of toxic masculinity, lack of understanding about boundaries, and respect for sexual partners among young people, exacerbated by the proliferation of pornography and the dangers of social media. She highlights that these issues are not confined to professional sports but are prevalent in everyday scenarios, with criminal offences being committed in playgrounds due to inappropriate image sharing. Laws criticises the football academy system for focusing more on football skills than social skills, leading to detachment and arrogance among young players. She offers free talks in schools about interaction and the escalation of bad choices into criminal allegations, and is willing to engage similarly with football clubs and key bodies in the professional game.
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