The British Ministry of Justice (MoJ) this afternoon stepped in to prevent convicted rapist Ched Evans resuming his football career overseas.

The Maltese side Hibernians announced on Friday that they had offered the 26-year-old former Sheffield United and Wales striker a deal for the remainder of the season.

But in a statement, the MoJ said that, as a convicted sex offender on licence, Evans was effectively barred from working abroad.

"We are determined to have one of the toughest regimes in the world for managing sex offenders, to stop them re-offending and to protect victims," said an MoJ spokesman.

"Probation officers must give permission for sex offenders on licence to take up new jobs and this includes ensuring they hold regular face to face meetings - this effectively rules out working abroad.

"The offenders will also be subject to strict conditions such as exclusion zones, non-contact orders and having to attend sex offender treatment programmes."

The announcement is a further setback to Evans who has been seeking to return to football following his release from prison in October after serving two-and-half of a five year sentence for rape.

Reports convicted rapist Ched Evans has been offered a contract by Maltese club Hibernians are 'false', Scottish club Hibernian said.

It was widely reported Evans was offered a contract in Malta but his spokesperson said: "Since the media frenzy surrounding Ched, there have been numerous false stories, and stories of which Ched knows nothing about, of which this is one."

Scottish club Hibernian have moved to clarify that they haven't made a bid for convicted rapist Ched Evans. 

The former Sheffield United striker is in fact a target for Maltese football club Hibernians, who share a similar name to that of Alan Stubbs' side. 

And they were said to have offered Evans a deal for the remainder of the season.   

The Scottish Championship side tweeted on Friday night: 'Just to clarify, we are #Hibs of Scotland and not #Hibernians of Malta. Should that ever change we'll let you all know. 

'See you the morn, HFC.' 

The confusion in Scotland was mirrored in equal confusion here in Malta with Justice Minister Owen Bonnici apparently disagreeing with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

For while Dr Bonnici tweeted that Evans, a former Sheffield United and Wales striker, deserved a second chance, the Prime Minister said footballers were role models and urged the club to rethink its decision.

In his tweet this morning, Dr Bonnici wrote "Ched Evans deserves a second chance. We should not only speak about rehabilitation of ex-prisoners, we must also practice what we preach."

However, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said footballers were role models and Hibernians's decision would not only define them, but also, to an extent, Malta's image internationally.

He hoped the club's management understood this point clearly before taking a final decision

The former Sheffield United striker, 26, was released from prison in October after serving half of a five-year sentence for the rape of a 19-year-old woman in a hotel room in 2011.

Evans played for Sheffield United at the time of his conviction and, after his release from prison, was given permission to use the League One club's training facilities.

The Blades later retracted their offer after strong opposition from some supporters and club patrons.

More than 165,000 people signed a petition opposing Evans's possible re-employment by the club.

Hartlepool boss Ronnie Moore stated in December he would like to sign the forward before the Football League's bottom club ruled out any such move.

Malta's Hibernians, 15 points clear at the top of the country's domestic league having dropped just two points in 16 games, are keen, with club vice-president Stephen Vaughan saying: 'We are looking to secure the services of a top striker and Ched fits the bill.

'We've spoken to his agent and have offered a deal from now until the end of the season.' 

Hibernians technical director Jeffrey Farrugia told Sky Sports News he believed a deal is close.

'I think we are quite close,' he said. 'We are waiting for his agent to call.'

He added on Sky News HD: 'Our vice-president has offered the contract until the end of the season to this glorious player to come over to Malta and play for our top team. We are leading the table at the moment.'

Asked if he had spoken to Evans, Farrugia said: 'Me personally, no, but Mr Stephen (Vaughan) yes, he met him in the UK. They sat down with his agent so they can speak about a contract.' 

While reports that Evans might sign with a club in England set off a storm of controversy, Farrugia believed there would be no such reaction in Malta.

'We have no problem with that,' he said. 'He was punished and he did his sentence so he should have a second chance, and our club is ready, the door is open for him to start his new career again in professional football.

'I don't think it's a wrong message. Everybody in life has mistakes, so you should have your second chance.'

He added of the possibility of protests against Evans at Hibernians' stadium: 'There won't be anything of this at our club. And I can't understand sometimes how English football, English clubs, think about all these things. Everybody must have a second chance. He paid for what he did, for us it's not an issue.' 

Farrugia also believes that by moving to Malta, Evans can put himself in the shop window for other clubs.

He said: 'For a player like him it's good to come to Malta to play these 26 games. He will be in the window for end of season, many clubs I'm sure they will go for him, so it's good for him to come here and enjoy the game of football.

'(He's) a big asset for our club, (to have) the big quality of this player join our club. We need players like him in Malta.'

Former Wales striker Nathan Blake told BBC Radio Wales Sport: "He'll never get a club in Britain, the public have spoken.

"He's not helped himself by not apologising for what he's done and he's probably underestimating the reaction he's going to get abroad."

Tranmere chairman Mark Palios claimed the League Two club turned down an approach from associates of Evans' about the possibility of him playing for the club, before League One Oldham last month denied reports they had offered Evans the opportunity to train with the club.

Local hotel entrepreneur Winston Zahra thus commented on his Facebook page: Jeffrey Farrugia talks about the Chad Evans offer to sky news ! His ex club and the whole English football league do not think he deserves a second chance because of what he did and more so because of his lack of apology in an interview following the case. I had personally seen the interview he gave and was repulsed by his lack of remorse. Yet Hibernians feel that he is fit to be brought to Malta and play football locally. Great example to give guys ! You've made us the laughing stock in the uk ! Great publicity for our Island at the start of the new year. I wonder if Jeffrey Farrugia would give Chad Evans a second chance if it was his daughter that he raped ! Where does the MFA stand on this issue ? I hope they have the authority and the moral fibre to refuse his application if Hibernians continue down this foolish route.