The sad tale of Mason Greenwood and Manchester United
Let’s talk about Manchester United and Mason Greenwood, shall we?
For those unaware of the origins of this sorry saga, Greenwood is a 21-year-old footballer contracted to Manchester United; a starlet who is part of a generation expected to lead the Red Devils to a new era of glory and conquest. He will, in short order, be a former Manchester United player.
It all started to come off the rails (for Greenwood, at least – United’s spiral has existed for a lot longer) in January 2022 when shocking audio emerged (I’m refusing to post it here – you can find it if you’re so inclined) of a man, allegedly Greenwood, verbally abusing a woman and attempting to coerce her into a sexual act. Shortly after the tape emerged, the woman posted photos of her battered and bleeding face that suggested that Greenwood had also allegedly physically abused her. Criminal charges were subsequently laid and Greenwood suspended by his club, though the charges were withdrawn in February of this year after key witnesses “withdrew their cooperation” with investigators, according to the Crown Prosecution Service.
It must be stated that no individual – with perhaps some disturbing exceptions – is beyond redemption. It should also be noted that Greenwood, a prodigiously talented played with an eye for goal and power from either boot, will start his football career again at some point.
Greenwood is 21 years old and life, with its spectrum of greys, allows for people to make right their wrongs. To that end, Greenwood has said all of the right things, albeit in a carefully stage managed way, since the charges were dropped:
“I understand that people will judge me because of what they have seen and heard on social media, and I know people will think the worst. I was brought up to know that violence or abuse in any relationship is wrong, 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. I am learning to understand my responsibilities to set a good example as a professional footballer, and I’m focused on the big responsibility of being a father, as well as a good partner.”
On the surface, his statement is fine, if predictably bland. Though it would be interesting to know what “mistakes” he takes his “share of responsibility” for. It should also be made clear that Greenwood is factually incorrect to state that he was “cleared of all charges.” Rather, the charges against Greenwood were not tested in a court of law. This, sadly, is not an exception.
A staggering 68% of sexual assault allegations in the UK result in the alleged victim withdrawing from the process before its completion. Overall less than 1% of all rape allegations in the UK end in a conviction. To that end it must be almost expected that United would have had a decision to make surrounding their young striker when, as was statistically likely, he would walk away a free man. That makes United’s comical managing of the situation all the sadder.
United legend and media commentator Gary Neville said on Sky Sports, “They’ve finally got there. It was clear from day one, to me and anybody who saw the evidence that was initially released, that (Greenwood) wouldn’t play for Manchester United again.” Neville is partially right; it should have been clear. Unfortunately, United’s vision was blurred.
Whether they were tantalized by Greenwood’s undoubted ability, the revenues he could generate, the threat of legal action should they have cancelled the £75,000 per week contract of a non-convicted man, or some other nebulous reason, United inexplicably examined every possible avenue available to keep Greenwood at Old Trafford. Sure, you have to subtract the loss of sponsorship, a decrease in season ticket sales and the cost of managing the PR fallout, but United clearly did their sums and, for the longest time, decided that Greenwood was worth it.
United chief executive Richard Arnold had reportedly been saying since February that he favoured the return of Greenwood to the first team. It was widely reported that Arnold told the club’s executive leadership in early August that they were planning to bring the forward back, a sentiment seemingly backed up by a club statement just last week. By way of justification, the club has leaned on a number of crutches: the time honoured “innocent until proven guilty” (fine … until you remember that nothing was proven, one way or the other, by this investigation); listening to the footballing side of the club ahead of anything else, even drawing the United women’s team into the debate, which was surely appreciated.
United have shown a terrible lack of moral accountability on this matter. The charges were dropped in February, yet it’s taken until now to make a definitive call on Greenwood’s future and even then it appears a 180 degree turn from a position held just seven days ago.
If there was ever a flashing neon sign that football, once a community pastime, local institutions designed to bring people together, has turned onto a gleaming, uncaring corporate monolith, this is it. Morality is our bedrock, until the market researchers say it isn’t. We put our fans first, unless the bean counters create a graph showing that they shouldn’t.
As much as we’re talking about the law and the human beings involved in this sorry mess, we’re also talking about football. That means there must be a winner and a loser. Who wins here, though? Is it Greenwood? He’ll once again kick a football for a healthy chunk of change, for sure. However he will never shake the stigma of being an accused sexual predator with a predilection for violence. It’s not Manchester United, whose ham-fisted attempts at walking this tightrope saw them fall repeatedly onto their faces before, almost by accident, coming to the right conclusion. It’s certainly not the alleged victim, who is unlikely to ever see justice served, the stain on Greenwood’s reputation aside.
In this tale, there is no winner. There is no ‘moral’ to the story. There is only emotional and reputational destruction.
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