This article references rape, sexual assault, and domestic violence.
Mason Greenwood will not be returning to Manchester United, according to a statement released by the club today.
Richard Arnold, Manchester United CEO, has written an open letter outlining the process behind the decision, concluding that he is “satisfied that Mason did not commit the acts he was charged with,” adding that Greenwood had “made mistakes which he takes responsibility for.”
Greenwood, 21, also released a statement in which he said, “I did not do the things I was accused of, and in February I was cleared of all charges. However, I fully accept I made mistakes in my relationship, and I take my share of responsibility for the situations which led to the social media post.”
Note, charges against Greenwood were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service in February earlier this year, after he was arrested in January 2022 following allegations of attempted rape, assault, and coercive control. The CPS dropped the charges on the basis there was “no longer a realistic prospect of conviction” after “key witnesses” withdrew their involvement.
He's since been at the centre of a lengthy internal investigation at Manchester United, which in recent weeks especially, has been beset with controversies. Following reports that plans had been made for Greenwood to return to the club, many fans expressed their horror, both online and in person.
It's not uncommon to see demonstrations outside Manchester United's stadium. Usually, the protests are aimed at the club's divisive owners (the Glazer family), but exactly one week ago – at Manchester United's first game of the Premier League season – a separate, smaller protest was underway. A collective of female football fans had a clear message: Don't let Mason Greenwood return to Manchester United.
Earlier in August, a Twitter account called 'Female Fans Against Greenwood's Return [FFAGR]' released a statement calling for Manchester United to “do the right thing” and decide against reintegrating Greenwood into the team, noting that his potential return “tells us, as women, that we don't matter.”
The collective further announced they'd be staging a demonstration outside Old Trafford, Manchester United's stadium, ahead of their first game in the new Premier League season on Monday evening. We spoke to several women in attendance (all dedicated Manchester United fans) to discuss their opinions about Mason Greenwood potentially returning to the club.
Lauren, 33, who works for a mental health charity in Manchester, comes from a family of Manchester United supporters. She described the speculation surrounding Greenwood's potential return as “quite triggering” and attended last week's protest after feeling “in limbo” while waiting for the club to make a decision.
Her reaction is one of disbelief: “I think most of us assumed he'd never played for the club again, and obviously we were all really happy with that […] I don't know anyone personally who wants him to come back to the club […], and that's men and women.”
While Lauren regularly attends Manchester United fixtures, that would have changed had Mason Greenwood returned to the club. “I don't think I could keep going,” she says. “I don't think I'd want to be funding the club in that way. It would be really heartbreaking […] But I don't think I could do it morally. It wouldn't feel right.”
Following the announcement that Greenwood will not be returning, Lauren told GLAMOUR that she's “really happy to hear that the club have done the right thing.” However, she also called “consequences for those at the top who were planning to bring him back.”
“I'm really glad we all came together to make them rethink their decision and stand up for what's right.”
Em, 40, who has been a Manchester United fan since childhood, attended the protest to share her view that “[Greenwood] shouldn't play for United again.”
She told GLAMOUR that the debate about Greenwood has been “heightened by comments from the club about involving the women’s team,” referencing reports that United wanted the women's squad – three of whom represented England at the FIFA Women's World Cup – to be consulted on Greenwood's future at the club.
“The club should not be entertaining any form of comeback.”
According to Em, the response from other Manchester United fans at last night's match was largely positive, which was “reassuring given how emotional a topic it has been for women in and around the club.”
She described Manchester United's decision to part ways with Greenwood as “Too little, too late” and called for the board to resign over their handling of the process. She directed GLAMOUR to one of her tweets in which she says, "There remain no circumstances whatsoever that could possibly mean he should have played again for the club.
"Still the pundits are silent.
“Still the club remains unable to state clearly and vocally that it is against domestic violence.”
Kellie, 41, a PR Director and mother-of-three from Wakefield, is a “born and bred Man United fan.”
While she wasn't able to attend last week's demonstration, she supported from afar, telling GLAMOUR, “The club should not be entertaining any form of comeback.”
She thinks Manchester United had a “moral obligation” to stop Greenwood from returning to the club, saying, "They need to make a stand in the biggest possible way that they can that we don't accept this. It's not what the club stands for.”
“There are consequences when you are role models and when you are paid such extortionate amounts of money. [The club have] got an unwritten obligation.”
In the aftermath of Manchester United's decision to part ways with Greenwoods, she tells GLAMOUR “There is obviously a lot about this relationship we will never know,” adding that “Manchester United] are very much pointing this out, whilst overstating Greenwoods innocence.”
She adds, “They sound arrogant and dismissive of fans. It screams of an obvious U-Turn – and against what they apparently really think or wanted as a board – so by way of solidarity with fans/women. It does not resonate.”
Women's Aid also released a statement noting how the impact of the decision on survivors of domestic violence: “We know that today’s news from Manchester United that Greenwood will be moving on from the club will be a relief for many survivors of domestic and sexual abuse.
“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.”
Read Manchester United's statement in full
Read Richard Arnold's open letter in full
Read Women's Aid's statement in full
For more information about emotional abuse and domestic abuse, you can call The Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge on 0808 2000 247.
For more information about reporting and recovering from rape and sexual abuse, you can contact Rape Crisis on 0808 500 2222.
If you have been sexually assaulted, you can find your nearest Sexual Assault Referral Centre here. You can also find support at your local GP, voluntary organisations such as Rape Crisis, Women's Aid, and Victim Support, and you can report it to the police (if you choose) here.
For more from Glamour UK's Lucy Morgan, follow her on Instagram @lucyalexxandra.
The response to the verdict (from people who should know better) is a missed opportunity to challenge misogyny in professional football.
