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Victimised
Crawley boss Steve Evans
believes he is being victimised by
referees and has accused the FA of
not condemning abuse of his family.
Evans was sent to the stand for the
sixth time this season during Monday's
1-0 home defeat against Aldershot after
exchanging insults with opposition
assistant boss Martin Kuhl.
It came less than 48 hours after he
was dismissed from the dug-out in Saturday's
1-0 reverse at Burton Albion.
Evans claims his latest dismissal
came after his wife and children were
abused by Kuhl, who was also sent to
the stand during the Blue Square premier
division clash.
Kuhl was reported to the FA earlier
in the season for punching Crawley
assistant Paul Raynor during an FA
Cup tie at the Recreation Ground.
Evans reckons his reputation as a
hot-head on the touchline has made
him a target for officials and opposition
coaches.
He said: "It is victimisation and it
seems people have got it in for me.
"I have been subject to the vilest comments
and nothing is being done about
it. I'm the one who has been sent to the
stand and got into trouble.
"There is no doubt there are rules for
other people and rules for us. The referees
are waiting to pounce and send me
into the stand."
Evans is angry because his family
have been subjected to abuse during
games and believes the football authorities
must act to stamp it out.
He added: "People wind you up and
call you rubbish all the time, I don't
mind that because it is part of the game.
They can even get personal, it doesn't
bother me.
"But when they say things about my
wife and kids, that is unacceptable. My
"I have never endured such vile
comments as I have this season
and something has to be done."
- Crawley manager Steve Evans
family have twice had to leave
the ground this season
because of personal abuse
aimed at them.
"Am I as a man meant to
just stand there and accept
that? I have never endured
such vile comments as I have
this season and something
has to be done.
"At Burton there were supporters
smashing my family
and I was told by the fourth
official that it was part of the
game and I should accept it.
"When the fourth official
refused to intervene and I had
put up with it for 70 minutes,
I couldn't stand any more and
that is when I reacted and I
went off. Nothing is being
done about those people and I
would say that people at Soho
Square are condoning people
abusing my wife and kids.
"They are condoning the
actions of others who say
derogatory comments to my
family."
Evans admits he may need
to grow thicker skin to prevent
being sent off again during
the remainder of the campaign.
He said: "People have
found a weakness in Steve
Evans. They have seen that I
have stood up to most things
but I can't accept this.
"Opposition benches have
seen what's happened and
they talk about it and exploit
it. They have seen a chink in
my armour and I have to try
and bolt it shut.
Evans has only been
charged twice for his touchline
misdemeanours.
He is waiting for the outcome
of an appeal on an FA
charge of improper conduct
following his dismissal from
the dug-out during a league
game against Woking in January.
Evans will be under
scrutiny when Reds face Kidderminster
at Broadfield Stadium
tonight.
Crawley are again likely to
be without the injured Glenn
Wilson and Dominic Shimmin,
while winger Kevin
James is unavailable.
Crawley: Ashley Bayes, Glenn Wilson,
Bradley Thomas, Jamie
Stevens, James Krause, Thomas
Pinault, Tyrone Thompson, Dannie
Bulman, Lee Blackburn, Jamie Cook,
Jon-Paul Pittman. Subs from: Pierre
Joseph-Dubois, Keiran Murphy,
Mustapha Carayol, Paul Raynor, Nick
Carter.
Kidderminster: Chris MacKenzie,
Jeff Kenna, Gavin Hurren, Mark
Creighton, Alex Jeannin, Russell
Penn, Dean Bennett, Simon Russell,
Darryl Knights, Matthew Barnes-
Homer, Iyseden Christie.Subs from:
Dean Coleman, Andy Ferrell, Paul
Bignot, Brian Smikle, Michael
McGrath.
tom.gurney@theargus.co.uk
How much sympathy do you have for Steve Evans? Let us know below.
11:16am Thursday 27th March 2008
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