Man Utd make decision as the club and Mason Greenwood issue a statement on his future

Man Utd make a decision as the club and Mason Greenwood issue a statement on his future, confirming he will leave by mutual agreement.

Greenwood was arrested in January 2022 after allegations surrounding material which was published online with charges against the 21 year old , including attempted rape and assault, subsequently dropped on the 2nd of February 2023.

But after a six month internal investigation, he will now be no longer part of the Premier League club, read the following statements below…

Club statement.#MUFC

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 21, 2023

CLUB STATEMENT:

Manchester United has concluded its internal investigation into the allegations made against Mason Greenwood.

Our process commenced in February 2023, following all charges against Mason being dropped. Throughout, we have taken into account the wishes, rights and perspective of the alleged victim along with the club’s standards and values, and sought to collate as much information and context as possible. This has required us to proceed with sensitivity and care to obtain evidence not in the public domain, including from those with direct knowledge of the case.

Based on the evidence available to us, we have concluded that the material posted online did not provide a full picture and that Mason did not commit the offences in respect of which he was originally charged. That said, as Mason publicly acknowledges today, he has made mistakes which he is taking responsibility for.

All those involved, including Mason, recognise the difficulties with him recommencing his career at Manchester United. It has therefore been mutually agreed that it would be most appropriate for him to do so away from Old Trafford, and we will now work with Mason to achieve that outcome.

In a statement, Greenwood accepted he had “made mistakes” and took his “share of responsibility”, but added: “I did not do the things I was accused of.”

He said: “Today’s decision has been part of a collaborative process between Manchester United, my family and me. The best decision for us all is for me to continue my football career away from Old Trafford, where my presence will not be a distraction for the club. I thank the club for their support since I joined aged seven. There will always be a part of me which is United.

“I am enormously grateful to my family and all my loved ones for their support, and it is now for me to repay the trust those around me have shown. I intend to be a better footballer, but most importantly a good father, a better person, and to use my talents in a positive way on and off the pitch.”

 

BREAKING: Manchester United have announced that Mason Greenwood will be leaving the club following an internal investigation into the allegations of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault against him. pic.twitter.com/8qVAt1JqIw

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 21, 2023

Richard Arnold statement on Mason Greenwood: “Dear fans, now that we have concluded and announced the outcome of the club’s investigation into Mason Greenwood, I want to be direct and transparent with our fans about the process and the reasons for our decision.

This was an internal disciplinary investigation between employer and employee which would ordinarily take place outside of the public eye. Given the public nature of the allegations and Mason’s profile, I acknowledge that this was not an ordinary situation, but I felt it important that we still follow due process and, so far as possible, avoid media comment until I had made a definitive decision.

When audio footage and imagery was posted online in January 2022, my feelings were of shock and concern for the alleged victim. Her welfare, wishes and perspective have been central to the club’s approach ever since, as have the club’s standards and values. While we immediately concluded that Mason should be suspended pending investigation, we were also conscious of our duty of care towards him and the importance of making a decision based on full information. Until February this year, this was a matter for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service. It was only when charges were dropped that the club discussed the allegations with Mason and others involved in the case.

Our investigation sought to collate as much evidence as possible to establish facts and context. This was not a quick or straightforward process for a variety of reasons. It was essential for us to respect the rights and wishes of the alleged victim. Also, we have limited powers of investigation which meant we were reliant on third party cooperation. Timings have also been influenced by my desire to minimise the impact of the investigation on our men’s and women’s teams, as well as our Lionesses. I acknowledge that this gave more time for speculation, but the alternative would have been to compromise due process or create untimely disruption.

While we were unable to access certain evidence for reasons we respect, the evidence we did collate led us to conclude that Mason did not commit the acts he was charged with. I am restricted as to what I can say for legal reasons, including the alleged victim’s ongoing right to anonymity, but I am able to share the following with you which should give you some insight into the complexity of this case.

• The alleged victim requested the police to drop their investigation in April 2022.
• We were provided with alternative explanations for the audio recording, which was a short excerpt from a much longer recording, and for the images posted online.
• The alleged victim’s family participated in the process and were given the opportunity to review and correct our factual findings.

Last week the media reported that we had decided to reintegrate Mason and that elements of a plan to do so had been leaked to them. Reintegration was one of the outcomes we considered and planned for. For context, over the course of the past six months several outcomes have been contemplated and planned for, and my view has evolved as our process progressed. While the ultimate decision rested with me, I was taking various factors and views into account right up until the point of finalising my decision.

While I am satisfied that Mason did not commit the acts he was charged with, Mason’s accepted that he has made mistakes which he takes responsibility for. I am also mindful of the challenge that Mason would face rebuilding his career and raising a baby together with his partner in the harsh spotlight of Manchester United. Further, this case has provoked strong opinions, and it is my responsibility to minimise any distraction to the unity we are seeking within the club.

Although we have decided that Mason will seek to rebuild his career away from Manchester United, that does not signal the end of this matter. The club will continue to offer its support both to the alleged victim and Mason to help them rebuild and move forward positively with their lives.

Thank you for your continued support,

Richard Arnold”

The correct call, just a shame it wasn’t made months ago. https://t.co/jAyi9e4it3

— HLTCO (@HLTCO) August 21, 2023

Inevitable and right decision on an untenable situation. https://t.co/O3WqE259R1

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) August 21, 2023

This is what Twitter users are saying as Man Utd make decision as the club and Mason Greenwood issue a statement on his future…

@samiichels: The right decision, shame it took public opinion to change their mind.

@thepokerfaced: The Mason Greenwood statement sums up the sad state of affairs at Man United.Absoulte clowns at the top running the show.

@NadeemA59571021: Let’s be clear @manutd were very intent on keeping Mason Greenwood and they only reason they have decided to let him go is because of the rightful pressure put on them had they done so, as well as the brilliant reporting by @AdamCrafton_ in exposing their flawed decision making.

@callumrjb: Don’t let this decision fool you. They had every intention of bringing him back and the only reason they didn’t is because of the public backlash they received. They made plans to bring him back. They called domestic abuse charities hostile. They are scum.

@Oldfirmfacts1: Man United don’t deserve an ounce of praise. They only arrived at the right decision thanks to a major backlash, having labelled domestic violence charities ‘hostile’, and even now their statement downplays the severity of Greenwood’s actions.

@mufc_dan87: A calamitous PR debacle, which ultimately forces the club into making a decision they should have taken long before instead of dithering for months followed by the obligatory U-turn as public pressure forces their hand. Absolutely textbook.

@BeersnBlues: So United say he’s not guilty, to take heat off them, but say Mason admits to making mistakes, and mutually agree to part company. We all know what happened, his bird blew him up, Horrible club, horrible nonce.

@calcio_danny: History needs to show that this wasn’t them showing solidarity with victims, and without the work of @AdamCrafton_ that the statement today would have been bringing him back

@4shaann: The relief. It’s been handled HORRENDOUSLY. But I’m just so relieved I’ll never have to watch him in our shirt again

@buckfastbadlad: they can’t even hide their disappointment in the statement announcing his departure, pathetic