A group of Manchester United supporters are reportedly planning a protest ahead of the club’s first home game of the season, outlining their opposition to the reinstatement of Mason Greenwood to the first team.
According the athleticThe protesters, who are all regular match-goers and want to remain anonymous for now, plan to air their sentiments ahead of Monday’s game against Wolves at Old Trafford.
Greenwood, 21, was arrested in January 2022 and suspended on full pay by United shortly after charges were brought against him for alleged rape and assault.
However, the Crown Prosecution Service announced in February this year that the charges had been dropped after ‘key witnesses’ withdrew their involvement.
After the news broke, United released a short statement explaining how they would carry out an internal investigation to decide his future, something that has been ongoing ever since, with a decision expected shortly on whether he will remain. or not in the club.
A group of Man United supporters are planning a protest ahead of the club’s first home game of the season, outlining their opposition to Mason Greenwood’s reinstatement to the first team.
Greenwood has an internal investigation into her future underway after the rape and assault charges against her were dropped in February, and a decision on her future is expected imminently.
The report states that protesters set up a banner in United Colors with a message that reads: ‘Fans Demand Greenwood Not Return: End Violence Against Women’.
One of the organizers explained the reason for the protest to The Athletic when he said: ‘It is time for the club to stand up and make the right decision.
“It’s time to say: ‘We have high standards at United for how we expect players to behave and if you don’t meet those standards, you should be transferred.
“This is a turning point for the club. Will they side with commercialism, trophies and money? Or will they side with the fans who attend the matches and is the club a social and community institution that we can be proud of and proud to have as part of our identity?’
If Greenwood were to remain at his boyhood club, an earlier report by The Athletic outlined how a staged reintegration could take place that would include United’s encouragement for the striker to take part in rehabilitation, which would initially include counseling or therapy.
This could also include facing a television interview and one that The Athletic reports as “in which he is questioned about the events that have led him to this point.”
The final decision on his future will come from the top, with Chief Executive Richard Arnold expected to bear the responsibility according to the internal investigation and the club’s report.
Protesters plan to gather at the Holy Trinity statue outside Old Trafford ahead of Monday’s game and hope to be joined by several people who are already taking part in another protest against ownership of the club by the unpopular Glazer family, which is being organized by the 1958 lobbyist.
They are also set to release a statement on the matter and set up a Twitter account outlining their opposition to Greenwood playing for the club again.
The group, which is made up of mostly female fans, is eager to garner support from fans of all genders and they are optimistic about the early feedback they have received.
They told The Athletic: ‘One thing I’m very proud of is how united the fan base who attend the games has been on this issue.
“There is potentially a bit of a divide with the fan base online, who have been more supportive of Greenwood. But there seems to be a genuine unity among the fans who attend the games. The nature of the audio means that people have really bonded in being outraged and disgusted by it.”
She added: ‘As fans, we’ve always been a bit of an outsider. Sometimes your voice is ignored and you are not taken as seriously as others.
The final decision on its future is likely to rest with CEO Richard Arnold.
“On a topic like this, it feels like an attack on all of us. We have to hope that the club does the right thing because, if Greenwood were to return, it would be serious enough for many fans to re-evaluate his relationship with the club.”
Greenwood’s future remains a contentious issue on all sides as there is believed to be a difference of opinion on what should be done between football and business operations at United, while Nike has already dropped him as a sponsored athlete. .
The striker’s last game for United was in a 1-0 Premier League win over West Ham on 22 January 2022, his last goal coming in a 3-1 win at Brentford three days earlier.
Greenwood’s number 11 jersey number has not been reassigned. His only appearance for the England national team was against Iceland in September 2020.
