Gary Neville causes a stir after ‘liking’ and ‘un-retweeting’ tweets ‘defending’ Mason Greenwood

Gary Neville causes a stir after ‘liking’ and ‘un-retweeting’ tweets ‘defending’ Mason Greenwood who has had charges against him dropped.

Charges of attempted rape and assault have been dropped against the 21 year old Manchester United footballer, who was arrested in January last year amid allegations surrounding images and videos that emerged online.

This led to a charge with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The Crown Prosecution Service said the charges were discontinued after key witnesses withdrew their involvement, a spokesman saying: “We have a duty to keep cases under continuous review.

“In this case a combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light meant there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction. In these circumstances, we are under a duty to stop the case.

“We have explained our decision to all parties.

“We would always encourage any potential victims to come forward and report to police and we will prosecute wherever our legal test is met.”

Within hours of the allegations emerging on social media at the beginning of 2022, Greenwood was suspended from playing or training with the Old Trafford outfit.

Greater Manchester Police said it was “only fair” to announce Greenwood would no longer face criminal proceedings.

Ch Supt Michaela Kerr said the decision had “not been taken lightly”.

She added: “I would, however, like to use this opportunity to reiterate the force’s commitment to investigating allegations of violence against women and girls and supporting those affected, regardless of their circumstances, throughout what can be a hard and upsetting time for them.”

Twitter user nazir afzal (@nazirafzal) wrote in a series of tweets: “Mason Greenwood has had all charges against him dropped by the Prosecutors

“What’s changed you may ask?

“It appears that (some) witnesses will no longer support a prosecution & new evidence came to light

“It happens.

“He is an innocent man, that’s all we need to know.

“You are innocent till PROVEN guilty

“We don’t have trial by media

“We don’t have evidence that any witnesses were lying

“We don’t do “victim or complainant blaming”

“Prosecutors have to be sure there is a realistic prospect of conviction by a jury on the evidence they have

“They don’t.”

Few have prosecuted more rapes than I & I know the system is broken, but it’s for the state to prove guilt
Here’s a longer explanation pic.twitter.com/JSK466Ku58

— nazir afzal (@nazirafzal) February 2, 2023

Gary Neville liking and retweeting stuff saying Greenwood is innocent based on today. But he’s always the first to lecture people about politics in football, how clubs should be ran etc. Horrific

— Will (@willreyner) February 2, 2023

Those tweets were liked and retweeted by Gary Neville, before being un-retweeted by the former Man Utd footballer turned pundit, while he also liked a tweet of the CPS spokesperson’s statement.

The actions of Gary Neville on Twitter has caused a huge reaction, with the 47 year old quickly rising to the top of the United Kingdom Twitter trends list.

Gary as since tweeted: “I liked a tweet relating to the Mason Greenwood news this afternoon from Nazir Afzal. ( the former director of public prosecutions ). This like is being misinterpreted. It was a clumsy like as I obviously condemn any violence against women.”

I liked a tweet relating to the Mason Greenwood news this afternoon from Nazir Afzal. ( the former director of public prosecutions ). This like is being misinterpreted. It was a clumsy like as I obviously condemn any violence against women.

— Gary Neville (@GNev2) February 2, 2023

This is what fans said as Gary Neville causes a stir after ‘liking’ and ‘un-retweeting’ tweets ‘defending’ Mason Greenwood…

@SDWWFC: Gary Neville liking this? Wanker @GNev2

@02Freddie: @GNev2 Something wrong with you mate

@Jennifer1906: Gary Neville “liking” this tweet is in such bad taste when we’ve all heard the audio clip…

@jms_jns: Is that @GNev2 liking tweets claiming Mason Greenwood’s innocence? That’s one hell of a high horse you have to come down from to get that low.

@PhilAxford: We all saw @GNev2

@luciano_utd: Ayy @GNev2 your likes are public by the way.

@aidan_ijc: Gary Neville liking and retweeting posts on Greenwood being innocent but will lecture people in football on morales whilst being the “political activist” have some shame @GNev2

@AmyVictoria_99: Someone tell Gary Neville that just because Greenwood’s case was dropped (Don’t come at me defending him spouting shit) doesn’t make him innocent.

@ajsb04: Also how embarrassing for Gary Neville to be liking that tweet. If he even dares to tweet about this issue then he should be suspended from the Labour Party.

@naahmannotagain: @GNev2 don’t bother pal @SkySportsPL ain’t got the balls to sack you

@JohnnyHall004: Thought @GNev2 would have had more sense, clearly not

@HarryAfc86: Gary Neville’s got some explaining to do

@ArsenalAnoop: @GNev2 shameless

@tovers98: He’s such a hypocrite in so many ways it is awful. Goes and works for Qatar. Just dreadful.

@JoshSto35208836: Would be good to see someone like @GNev2 call out this decision considering he has so much to say about everything else political.

@LogicalFan: We’re all correctly having a go at Gary Neville, but watch SkySports continue as if nothing happened 💩💩

@Villasince82: @GNev2 @SkySports Just so you know Gary dropped charges doesn’t mean Greenwood is innocent. The evidence was there for all to see. You are a disgrace

@EmmaAWheatley:
Given Gary Neville’s latest liked tweets it’s clear why he doesn’t bother with the ‘retweets and likes are not endorsements’ in his bio.
Tories = bad
Violence against women = good?

@TobyUTD__: Bit weird @GNev2

@dylne22: @GNev2 poor decision mate!

@Dalebird1985: @GNev2 what are you doing!! I hope no one ever treats your kid like that! I can assure you anyone ever speaks to my daughter like that. They’d be Guilty for life!!

@Gallagherlad95: @GNev2 fucking hypocrite

@LD0E_: @GNev2 and that’s highly disappointing from you.

@MCFCTone: Gary Neville being hypocritical… surely not 🤣🤣

@GNev2 when he realises all his likes are public knowledge pic.twitter.com/pWKjNcefla

— Craig Richardson (@CraigRich84) February 2, 2023

.@GNev2 this is sickening, today doesn’t come close to suggesting he is innocent, 99% of rape cases don’t end in a conviction.

One reason why people don’t come forward about abuse is that the justice system is broken. Another is that celebrities like YOU endorse views like THIS. pic.twitter.com/Pu2ROf4r0j

— alex (@alexcmfc) February 2, 2023

I’m really trying not to get sucked into the Mason Greenwood stuff, but Gary Neville immediately liking and retweeting stuff endorsing his innocence…

When he sits on his moral high horse so often

Is piss boiling

— Rory Talks Football (@Rory_Talks_Ball) February 2, 2023