- Manchester United confirmed on Monday that Greenwood would leave the club.
- This followed a six-month investigation into the attacker after charges against him were dropped.
- The episode created tension between the women’s team and the club’s hierarchy.
Manchester United director of football John Murtough held a summit with the women’s team on Tuesday to explain the club’s stance on Mason Greenwood.
United confirmed on Monday that Greenwood would leave Old Trafford after the club completed their review of the striker.
The 21-year-old was arrested in January 2022 on suspicion of a number of offenses including attempted rape, but the prosecution later dropped the charges in February this year after key witnesses withdrew and the discovery of new elements.
The episode created tension between the players and the club’s hierarchy.
Members of Marc Skinner’s team have come under fire on social media amid a story that they don’t want Greenwood to stay given the evidence that has come to light in the public domain.
Mail Sport understands that should United stick with Greenwood, some of the women’s squad would seriously consider publicly criticizing the club.
But yesterday Murtough informed the team just 24 hours after news broke of ties with Greenwood.
During summit discussions, which had been arranged in advance, Murtough outlined the processes of the internal investigation and the reasons for the final decision.
The meeting is believed to have ended positively, with the players – who were made aware of the club’s decision before it was made public – accepted Murtough’s explanation.
United’s World Cup players Mary Earps, Ella Toone and Katie Zelem did not attend the meeting after their heartbreaking final loss to Spain on Sunday.
The club’s supporters made their feelings clear ahead of their Premier League opener against Wolves on August 14.
Supporters gathered near the Holy Trinity statue outside the pitch, holding up a banner that read: ‘Female fans don’t demand Greenwood back – end violence against women “.
Another fan was seen holding up a sign that read: ‘Don’t leave the decision up to the women’s team, you motherless, soulless asshole.
It came after Mail Sport previously reported the club had consulted with the Greenwood women’s team, as well as club sponsors and fan groups.
Famous United fan Rachel Riley has previously said she would stop supporting the club if they decided to keep Greenwood.
Following news of the England striker’s departure from the club, the Countdown co-host said she felt United chief executive Richard Arnold should reflect on his stance on his handling of the case.
Riley, talking to press officerssaid United had “absolutely mishandled” the Greenwood situation and said they had “never been so ashamed of the club”.
She accused the club of ‘giving the green light to abuse on social media’ and said their support for Greenwood had ‘turned an alleged abuser into a victim’.
When asked if Arnold should consider his position, Riley replied, “Yes, yes, I do. I’m someone who saw it with my own eyes supporting my friend who was a victim of domestic violence.
“Four years ago, I wouldn’t have known. I wouldn’t even have been able to comment. But I could see how little is known, even among the professionals who are supposed to deal with this subject – I include the police, I include the social services.
“If they don’t know the intricacies, I don’t know how a CEO of Manchester United who has millions of pounds at stake is able to pass judgment on what happened, especially if he didn’t not consulted domestic violence charities.
“Not just, not having consulted them, having put them on a list, calling them hostile to the idea of him coming back.
“I think it was absolutely mishandled. I’ve been a Man United fan since before I was born. My father has been going there since 1960.
“I cooked the Man United stuff for my babies when they were in their mothers’ wombs and I’ve never been so ashamed of the club.” I think it’s just a shame.
“They’ve had another opportunity to put things right, to make a good statement and they’ve just given the green light to the abuse that’s happening on social media to claim their innocence, to turn the alleged abuser into the alleged victim, that which is classic, DAVRO [‘Deny, attack and reverse victim and offender’] technical.
‘I’m so disappointed.’
Asked again if Arnold should consider his position, Riley added, “Yeah, I do. I say this with such a heavy heart. As a fan I grew up, these players are heroes. Manchester United players, for little kids, these are your heroes.
“For my part, I chose Manchester United as a subject on Mastermind, I had the chance to go to work at the club, to do charity events, to meet the players, to meet the managers, to go to the lodge directors for matches.. It’s like my ultimate dream.
“I would love more than anything to give this to my daughters. But I can’t not talk.
“I mean, what I risk as a fan, or someone who enjoys all these privileges, compared to what a victim of domestic violence risks coming forward, even if they don’t believe them, it’s not is nothing.
“But I just don’t agree at all with what happened.”
In an open letter to supporters following Greenwood’s departure, Arnold said: “While we were unable to access certain evidence for reasons we respect, the evidence we have gathered has led us to conclude that Mason n did not commit the acts of which he was accused.”
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