LONDON: Manchester United suspended footballer Mason Greenwood on Sunday after accusations online that the 20-year-old player had assaulted a woman.
In an initial statement on Sunday, the club said it was “aware of images and allegations circulating on social media,” saying it would not comment further until the facts had been established, and adding:
“Manchester United does not condone violence of any kind.” In a later statement, United said, “Mason Greenwood will not return to training or play matches until further notice.” The allegations against Greenwood, including video, photographs and a voice note, were posted on Instagram on Sunday morning and later deleted.
Greater Manchester Police said a man was arrested on suspicion of rape and assault and was being held in custody for questioning after social media images and videos were posted by a woman reporting incidents of physical violence.
In keeping with police practice they did not name the suspect. “An investigation was launched and following enquiries we can confirm a man in his 20s has since been arrested on suspicion of rape and assault,” the police said in a statement.
Greenwood has six goals and two assists in 24 matches in all competitions for United this season. He began his career at United’s academy and has played once for the England national team.
In September 2020, both Greenwood and Manchester City mid-fielder Phil Foden were sent home from an England squad in Iceland after a breach of the team’s coronavirus guidelines following their senior international debuts. That meant they did not travel to Denmark for a Nations League match, with Greenwood yet to earn a second England cap.
The statement regarding the arrest of a man on suspicion of rape and assault comes just under a fortnight since Manchester United great Ryan Giggs’s trial on charges of assaulting his ex-girlfriend and her sister was delayed until August because of a backlog in the courts.
Giggs, 47 has been on leave from his role as Wales manager since November 2020 when he was arrested. He is accused of controlling and coercive behaviour against his former girlfriend Kate Greville between August 2017 and November 2020.
He has also been accused of assaulting Greville and common assault of her younger sister, Emma Greville, at his home in the Manchester area, on November 1, 2020. Giggs has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to all charges.
