Cameroon international Joseph Elanga of Sweden’s Malmo FF may not have a job after serving a two-month prison sentence for domestic violence. Elanga was sentenced by a Swedish court last week for assaulting his wife.
But it now seems they are back-tracking after pressure from a women’s rights groups.
Ireen von Wachenfeldt, who heads the National Women’s Organisation criticised the club for its stance.
« What kind of signal is the club sending out? Malmo must show that it does not support domestic violence, » she told the BBC Sport website.
« A man who hits his wife should not be welcomed in the club. »
A statement from the club last week suggested that they would keep the 23-year-old on once his sentence has been completed.
It said that while the club did not condone such behaviour it respected the laws of the country.
« The law states that a person who has served a penalty for a crime is free to function in the society as others, » the club statement said.
But pressure from the women’s group has left the club’s leadership rethinking its position.
A source within the board said: « the issue is very sensitive. Many will want to give him the usual treatment. But there is a negative side to this, » the source told this website.
There are reports in the local media that the club, Sweden’s most popular, may opt to terminate Elanga’s contract to avoid the bad publicity.
However the defender’s agent Martin Klethe is confident that Elanga, who is regarded as the best left back in Sweden, will stay at Malmo.
« There is nothing to suggest that the prison sentence will affect his career, » Klethe added.
