Here's another football-related thread - sort of.

Finney's contract with Pools was cancelled early on last season after it came out that he faced trial for rape in Cheshire, dating back to his time playing for Crewe.

Well, the trial finally took place last week and he was acquitted.

I'm not one of those always believe the worst, 'no smoke without fire' types so the bloke has basically been deprived of his livelihood for 15 months and had his character blackened.
Still only 27 - wonder if he'll be able to get back into professional football?

Others have managed it- Lee Hughes former WBA played again after a spell in the Big House for Death by Dangerous Driving.
Ched Evans had something similar levelled at him and played again - seem to remember he was linked to Pools, for his comeback.

Though they were higher up the food chain as it were - so maybe he'll end up at level 6, turning out for Kidderminster or Peterborough Sports

Maybe all parties in these trials should be anonymous…?

I agree, as false allegations can literally ruin people. I know of a couple of instances where that has happened in the world of education -due to kids being shithouses and deliberately making stuff up. Happened to a mate of mine who resigned on principal, when it was admitted by the accuser that it was indeed a load of horse shit.

could not agree more as i feel for certain offences people feel they are guilty at first and they have to prove their own innocence. even then the ones who want them to be guilty will mention no smoke without fire and never give up if they are proved innocent. they could be as guilty as sin but only a court case is the one we can go off.