A group of largely female fans are calling for the striker not to represent the club again ahead of the opening game of their new season
A group of Manchester United supporters are plotting a series of protests to make it clear they do not want Mason Greenwood to be reintegrated into the club’s plans.
The fans, who are all regular Old Trafford match-goers, intend to make their feelings clear outside the stadium before United’s opening game of the season at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday.
A banner has been made, in United’s colours, with the message: “Female Fans Demand No Greenwood Return – End Violence Against Women.”
“It’s time for the club to stand up and make the right decision,” one of the organisers told The Athletic, speaking on condition of anonymity due to fears of being targeted by Greenwood’s supporters. “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?”
Greenwood, 21, has not played for United since he was arrested in January 2022 relating to a tape being released on social media of an alleged sexual attack.
He subsequently faced a police investigation resulting in charges against him for attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Greenwood denied all the alleged offences.
I wonder what the players and coaching staff think... and their female partners and daughters.
Obviously also men should not want this guy as their colleague, but like these protests show women probably care more.
Ten Hag is married to a woman and has two daughters. Only being supportive of women because you have daughters is stupid, but I do wonder about the conversations they might have.
I would absolutely talk to my husband / father in this situation. And what could Ten Hag say exactly? Morally he has no leg to stand on, for Man United it's purely a financial decision. Greenwood represents a certain value and the club doesn't want to give that up. Ten Hag could make his value for ManU zero by announcing he does not want rapists in his squad and will never play him. The fact he hasn't is really disappointing.
How can you face your wife and daughters while defending a rapist and abuser? I don't know how those two can ever be compatible and I would lose so much respect for anyone who does.
The difficulty is, he’s not a rapist in the eyes of the law as there was no conviction, so Ten Hag or the club can’t say anything that suggests he is without opening themselves up to legal repercussions.
That said, Greenwood absolutely should not play for this or any other club because, despite the outcome, we all know what he is. The termination of his contract should be unquestionable.