Players' chief Gordon Taylor has defended the decision to include Ched Evans in the PFA League One team of the season despite his conviction for rape, saying it was a "football decision not a moral decision".
The Sheffield United striker was jailed for five years on Friday for the rape of a 19-year-old woman, but he was still included in the PFA team as members had already cast their votes.
Taylor, chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, told Press Association Sport: "That was a football judgement by his fellow professionals, it was not a moral judgement and in no way does the PFA condone the offence for which he was convicted."
He added: "If he had been removed from the team it would have created more of a storm and would have been manipulating the vote.
"Votes are cast on footballing ability, obviously everyone is quite disturbed about the conviction and whether that would have changed the vote we just don't know."
Wales striker Evans, who hit 35 goals in 42 appearances in all competitions for the Blades, has indicated that he wants to appeal against the conviction.
Source: PA
