Warning: This article contains details of alleged abuse
Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood will leave the club by mutual agreement after a six-month internal investigation into his conduct.
Greenwood was arrested in January 2022 following allegations surrounding material which was published online.
Charges against the 21-year-old England international, including attempted rape and assault, were dropped on 2 February 2023.
United said in a statement: “All those involved, including Mason, recognise the difficulties with him recommencing his career at Manchester United.
“It has therefore been mutually agreed that it would be most appropriate for him to do so away from Old Trafford, and we will now work with Mason to achieve that outcome.
“Based on the evidence available to us, we have concluded that the material posted online did not provide a full picture and that Mason did not commit the offences in respect of which he was originally charged. That said, as Mason publicly acknowledges today, he has made mistakes which he is taking responsibility for.”
In a statement, Greenwood accepted he had “made mistakes” and took his “share of responsibility”, but added: “I did not do the things I was accused of.”
He said: “Today’s decision has been part of a collaborative process between Manchester United, my family and me. The best decision for us all is for me to continue my football career away from Old Trafford, where my presence will not be a distraction for the club. I thank the club for their support since I joined aged seven. There will always be a part of me which is United.
“I am enormously grateful to my family and all my loved ones for their support, and it is now for me to repay the trust those around me have shown. I intend to be a better footballer, but most importantly a good father, a better person, and to use my talents in a positive way on and off the pitch.”
Greenwood, whose contract at Old Trafford runs until 2025, could now be sold, or loaned to another club for the remainder of his contract.
He remains on full pay but will not return to training with United.
What is the background?
In material published online, a man – alleged to be Greenwood – could be heard shouting at a woman to “move your [expletive] legs up”. The woman responded that she did not want sex, and the man replied: “I don’t give a [expletive] what you want, you little [expletive].”
The man then says: “Push me again and watch what happens to you.”
Greenwood was charged in October 2022 with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Following his arrest, Nike ended its sponsorship deal with Greenwood and Electronic Arts removed him from active squads on its Fifa 22 game.
After the charges were dropped in February 2023, the Crown Prosecution Service said key witnesses had withdrawn and new material had come to light, meaning there was “no longer a realistic prospect of conviction”.
At the time, a statement released on Greenwood’s behalf said he was “relieved”.
United then started their own internal investigation in to the player, who was previously named one of the most valuable players in Europe’s top five leagues.
Greenwood has one England cap, and was sent home from the international camp during which he won it after an “unacceptable” breach of coronavirus quarantine guidelines in Iceland.
In a statement last week, the club said they had gathered “extensive evidence and context not in the public domain” and spoken to “numerous people with direct involvement or knowledge of the case”.
In an open letter to fans on Monday, United chief executive Richard Arnold said the extra evidence included the alleged victim requesting the police to drop their investigation in April 2022, and the club receiving alternative explanations for the material that was posted online.
“While I am satisfied that Mason did not commit the acts he was charged with, Mason’s accepted that he has made mistakes which he takes responsibility for,” Arnold said.
Greenwood said that: “I understand that people will judge me because of what they have seen and heard… and I know people will think the worst. I was brought up to know that violence or abuse in any relationship is wrong.”
An announcement of the investigation’s results was expected before United’s opening Premier League game of the season against Wolves on 14 August, but the decision was delayed amid fierce debate about Greenwood’s potential reintegration at Old Trafford.
What has happened in recent weeks?
A group of female United supporters protested about his potential return outside Old Trafford before the Wolves game, and said they wanted the club to “demonstrate a zero-tolerance approach” towards violence against women.
Female Fans Against Greenwood’s Return put out a lengthy statement to say Greenwood’s reintegration would tell them “as women, that we don’t matter”.
The club said they wanted to consult with their women’s team, some of whom were part of England’s World Cup squad playing in Australia, before announcing a decision about Greenwood’s future.
United announced their decision while the Lionesses were flying home.
In a statement last Wednesday, United said the “fact-finding phase” of their investigation was complete, adding a decision about Greenwood’s future – which rested with Arnold – was in the final stages.
The Athletic reported United’s executive leadership team had been told in early August that Greenwood – who scored 35 goals in 129 games – would be returning to the club.
However, United said the decision had not been made and was “the subject of intensive internal deliberation”.
The following day, television presenter Rachel Riley said she would stop supporting United if Greenwood was allowed to stay.
A number of MPs criticised the club when it was reported they were considering bringing Greenwood back, with Labour MP Apsana Begum saying such a decision would be “a stain on your club that will be hard to forget”.
After Monday’s announcement, Female Fans Against Greenwood’s Return said the club had “done the right thing, for the wrong reasons”.
Women’s Aid, a charity which works to end domestic abuse against women and children, said it welcomed United’s decision.
“We know that today’s news from Manchester United that Greenwood will be moving on will be a relief for many survivors of domestic and sexual abuse,” it said in a statement.
“Football is loved by so many people worldwide, and players are often idolised by fans, so the way that alleged domestic abuse cases are treated in clubs has a huge impact on public understanding about what is accepted and tolerated in society.”
The Manchester United Supporters Trust said: “Since the deeply distressing initial allegations surfaced, this episode has been allowed to drag out for far too long as the club has carried out an investigative process.
“Moreover, the complete lack of consultation with fans even with respect to process added fuel to the fire. Whilst the speculation and discussion in the last couple of weeks has been profoundly unhelpful and reflected very poorly on the club, it is clear that they have in the end reached the right decision.
“We are relieved that this matter can now be put behind us and will be working with the club to ensure lessons have been learned from this very troubling episode.”
In August 2022, the Premier League introduced mandatory sexual consent training for players and staff, six months after a coalition of women’s groups sent an open letter to the Football Association and Premier League urging them “to confront a culture of gender-based violence”.
On Monday, two groups from that coalition – The Three Hijabis and the End Violence Against Women Coalition – reiterated their call and said Greenwood’s United exit was the “right outcome”.
“Solely focusing on the actions of individual players allows football clubs and institutions to evade accountability for the role they play in maintaining a culture of silence and impunity,” they said in a statement.
“This is a structural issue that football must take responsibility for.”
Man Utd’s open letter in full
Chief executive Richard Arnold wrote to supporters:
“Now that we have concluded and announced the outcome of the club’s investigation into Mason Greenwood, I want to be direct and transparent with our fans about the process and the reasons for our decision.
“This was an internal disciplinary investigation between employer and employee which would ordinarily take place outside of the public eye. Given the public nature of the allegations and Mason’s profile, I acknowledge that this was not an ordinary situation, but I felt it important that we still follow due process and, so far as possible, avoid media comment until I had made a definitive decision.
“When audio footage and imagery was posted online in January 2022, my feelings were of shock and concern for the alleged victim. Her welfare, wishes and perspective have been central to the club’s approach ever since, as have the club’s standards and values. While we immediately concluded that Mason should be suspended pending investigation, we were also conscious of our duty of care towards him and the importance of making a decision based on full information. Until February this year, this was a matter for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service. It was only when charges were dropped that the club discussed the allegations with Mason and others involved in the case.
“Our investigation sought to collate as much evidence as possible to establish facts and context. This was not a quick or straightforward process for a variety of reasons. It was essential for us to respect the rights and wishes of the alleged victim. Also, we have limited powers of investigation which meant we were reliant on third-party co-operation. Timings have also been influenced by my desire to minimise the impact of the investigation on our men’s and women’s teams, as well as our Lionesses. I acknowledge that this gave more time for speculation, but the alternative would have been to compromise due process or create untimely disruption.
“While we were unable to access certain evidence for reasons we respect, the evidence we did collate led us to conclude that Mason did not commit the acts he was charged with. I am restricted as to what I can say for legal reasons, including the alleged victim’s ongoing right to anonymity, but I am able to share the following with you which should give you some insight into the complexity of this case.
- The alleged victim requested the police to drop their investigation in April 2022.
- We were provided with alternative explanations for the audio recording, which was a short excerpt from a much longer recording, and for the images posted online.
- The alleged victim’s family participated in the process and were given the opportunity to review and correct our factual findings.
“Last week the media reported that we had decided to reintegrate Mason and that elements of a plan to do so had been leaked to them. Reintegration was one of the outcomes we considered and planned for. For context, over the course of the past six months several outcomes have been contemplated and planned for, and my view has evolved as our process progressed. While the ultimate decision rested with me, I was taking various factors and views into account right up until the point of finalising my decision.
“While I am satisfied that Mason did not commit the acts he was charged with, Mason’s accepted that he has made mistakes which he takes responsibility for. I am also mindful of the challenge that Mason would face rebuilding his career and raising a baby together with his partner in the harsh spotlight of Manchester United. Further, this case has provoked strong opinions, and it is my responsibility to minimise any distraction to the unity we are seeking within the club.
“Although we have decided that Mason will seek to rebuild his career away from Manchester United, that does not signal the end of this matter. The club will continue to offer its support both to the alleged victim and Mason to help them rebuild and move forward positively with their lives.”