A group of Manchester United supporters are reportedly planning a protest before the club’s first home game of the season, outlining their opposition to reintegrating Mason Greenwood into the first team.
According to The Athletic, the protestors – who are all regular match-goers and want to remain anonymous for the time being – are preparing to express their feelings ahead of Monday’s game against Wolves at Old Trafford.
Greenwood, 21, was arrested in January 2022 and suspended on full pay by United a short time later after charges of alleged rape and assault were made against him.
However, the Crown Prosecution Service announced in February of this year that the charges had been dropped after ‘key witnesses’ withdrew their involvement.
After the news was made public, United released a short statement which explained how they would conduct an internal investigation to decide his future – something that has been ongoing ever since – with a decision expected shortly on whether or not he will remain at the club.
A group of Man United supporters are planning a protest before the club’s first home game of the season, outlining their opposition to reintegrating Mason Greenwood into the first team
Greenwood has an internal investigation into his future ongoing after rape and assault charges against him were dropped back in February, with a decision on his future expected imminently
The report states a banner has been prepared by the protestors in United colours with a message that reads: ‘Female Fans Demand No Greenwood Return – End Violence Against Women.’
One of the organisers explained the reason for the protest, saying: ‘It’s time for the club to stand up and make the right decision.
‘It’s time to say, “We have high standards at United about how we expect players to conduct themselves and, if you do not meet those standards, you need to be moved out.”
‘This is a tipping point for the club. Are they going to side with commercialism and trophies and money? Or are they going to take the side of match-going fans and the club being a social and community institution that we can be proud of, and proud to have as part of our identity?’
The protestors are planning to come together at the Holy Trinity statue outside Old Trafford ahead of Monday’s game and they are hoping to be joined by several individuals who are already taking part in another protest against the unpopular Glazer family’s ownership of the club, which is being organised by the 1958 pressure group.
They also set up a Twitter account and released a statement that outlined their opposition to Greenwood ever playing for the club again.
The statement read: ‘Today, we female fans of Manchester United are demanding that the club abide by their duty of care towards their female fans and employees and demonstrate a zero tolerance approach towards acts of violence against women by refusing to bring Mason Greenwood back into the squad.
‘The situation is clear – taking Greenwood back legitimises and normalises 𝓈ℯ𝓍ual assault and domestic abuse. It tells other players, and the men and boys that look up to them, that abusing women is acceptable, without consequence, and won’t affect you or derail your career.
‘It also tells us, as women, that we don’t matter. It tells female MUFC employees that their employer is happy to make them work alongside an abuser, and tells hundreds of thousands of female fans that supporting the team we love involves supporting men who abuse women like us.
‘It tells us that our safety doesn’t matter, our experiences don’t matter; that the 1 in 4 women who experience domestic abuse and/or 𝓈ℯ𝓍ual assault in the UK don’t matter. It tells us that men who make the club money matter; not us, our fellow fans, mothers, sisters or daughters.
The group launched a Twitter account and released a statement that outlined their opposition to Greenwood ever playing for the club again
Greenwood hasn’t played for United since a 1-0 win over West Ham back on January 22, 2022
‘The club has launched all sorts of initiatives in recent years to allegedly promote inclusivity and diversity at the match, but “All Red All Equal” means nothing if the rights of those who have perpetrated gender-based violence are more equal than those who have lived through it.
‘We know there are currently multi million pound PR firms spinning narratives to go along with his potential return. “Repentant father who has turned his life around and just wants to support his partner and 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥.” “Young genius who made a mistake but deserves a second chance.”‘
The statement continued: ‘Threatening your partner with 𝓈ℯ𝓍ual violence isn’t “a mistake”, it’s deliberate, targeted abuse. The lockdown parties and police warnings were apparently “a mistake”, getting dropped by England and sent home from camp for breaking the rules was also apparently “a mistake”.
‘The problem here isn’t a player who has “made a mistake”, it’s a player who has consistently demonstrated an attitude of extreme arrogance, entitlement and exceptionalism; and who has shown nothing but disregard and contempt for what it means to represent this great club.
‘Everyone makes mistakes, but not everyone does so while in the position of power and privilege Greenwood is. If you want to play at the highest level at the biggest club in the world, your behaviour will be held up to the highest level of scrutiny, accountability and expectation.
‘The decision of senior management at MUFC regarding Greenwood’s return will tell us fans everything we need to know about their ability to run this club, and about whether they have any genuine willingness to listen to, engage with, and support fans on issues that matter to us.
‘Is this club for them just a vehicle for commercial success, trophies, sponsorships and revenue? Or do they genuinely share our vision of Manchester United as a great institution that exists as a place of belonging and community for those who care about its values and traditions?
‘We are calling on the club to do the right thing. For their fans, for their employees, for the millions of young boys and girls across the world who look up to our players as heroes and role models, and the millions of women whose lives have been blighted by violence and abuse.
‘To the decision makers at the club, remember; this goes beyond football. This decision is a reflection of you, your morals; of who you are as individuals, and as humans. Will you stand with abusers, or with the abused? History will judge your choices. Make sure you choose well.’
The group – which is mainly made up of female fans – are keen to garner support from supporters of all genders and they are optimistic on the early feedback they have received.
If Greenwood was to remain with his boyhood club, a previous report from The Athletic outlined how a phased reintegration could take place which would include encouragement from United for the forward to take part in rehabilitation, which would initially include counselling or therapy.
This could also include facing a TV interview and one which The Athletic reports as ‘in which he is challenged on the events that have taken him to this point’.
The ultimate decision on his future is likely to come down to chief executive Richard Arnold
The ultimate decision on his future will come from the very top, with chief executive Richard Arnold expected to have the responsibility based on the club’s internal investigation and report.
Greenwood’s future remains a contentious topic on all sides with there believed to be a difference in opinion on what should be done between the football and commercial departments at United, while he has already been dropped by Nike as a sponsored athlete.
The forward’s last match for United was in the 1-0 Premier League win over West Ham on January 22, 2022, with his last goal coming in a 3-1 win at Brentford three days beforehand.
Greenwood’s No 11 shirt number has not been re-allocated. His sole appearance for the England national team was against Iceland in September 2020.
Source: dailymail
