Mason Greenwood won’t play or train while Manchester United carry out investigation
Mason Greenwood will not return to action for Manchester United as the Premier League club conduct an internal investigation into the allegations made against the 21-year-old.
Charges of attempted rape and assault were dropped Thursday against Greenwood.
Greenwood, 21, was arrested in January 2022 amid allegations of images and videos. The attacker was later charged with attempted rape, authoritarian and coercive behavior and assault causing actual bodily harm.
On Thursday, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said there was “no longer a realistic prospect of conviction” after key witnesses withdrew their cooperation with the investigation.
But Greenwood, an England international, will not return to training or play while United conduct an internal investigation, which is expected to begin immediately.
The club said in a statement: “Manchester United take note of the Crown Prosecution Service’s decision that all charges against Mason Greenwood have been dropped.
“The club will now conduct its own process before determining the next steps.
“We will not comment further until this process is complete.”
It is not yet known how long this process will take to complete. United have delayed opening the internal investigation until the charges against Greenwood have been dropped, so as not to harm ongoing criminal proceedings.
Greenwood was due to stand trial in November 2023.
A statement from Greater Manchester Police on Thursday read: “Criminal charges against a 21-year-old man in connection with an investigation opened in January 2022 have today (Thursday 2nd February 2023) been dropped by the CPS. “
Chief Superintendent Michaela Kerr, GMP’s public protection officer, added: “Given the extensive media coverage of this case, it is only fair that we share the news that the 21-year-old, who had been arrested and charged in connection with an investigation opened in January 2022, is no longer the subject of criminal charges in this regard.
“The investigation team has remained in regular contact with the legal team, providing all important updates, and thus understands the rationale for discontinuing the prosecution at this stage, and that this decision has not been taken lightly.
“Despite media and public interest in this case, we have decided not to comment on it in further detail.”
A CPS spokesperson told The Athletic: “We have a duty to keep the cases under continuous review.
“In this case, the combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material being uncovered meant that there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction. Under these circumstances, we have a duty to stop the case.
“We have explained our decision to all parties.
“We always encourage all potential victims to come forward and report to the police and we will prosecute whenever our legal test is met.”
(Photo: Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)