It's the paying punters that count.

The case of the convicted rapist footballer raises its head again (see post of 22/10/14).  His attempts to resume his career are being blocked by those who think he should never be allowed to play football again.  On the other side of the argument are those (including it would seem, the footballers' trade union) who take the view that he has paid his dues to society and should be allowed to get on with his life.  I think the problem is that, as a footballer, he is involved in the entertainment business, and that business - whether you are putting on a football match, or a pantomime, or an historical re-enactment or whatever - is all about putting bums on seats - or more precisely getting people to pay you for the privilege of putting their bum on a seat. And if, for whatever reason, people don't want to come and see what you are putting on then you are stuffed.  If he were an office clerk, or a van driver, the problem would not arise. So it's really not about justice, or fairness or giving somebody a second chance, or anything like that - it's a simple matter of economics.