The Mason Greenwood case is not an isolated one – professional clubs are expected to take public accountability when footballers misbehave off the pitch

Photos and a sound fragment, posted on social media in the early hours of Sunday, January 30, 2022. That’s where it starts. A man’s voice can be heard aggressively asking a woman to put her “legs up.” She says she doesn’t want sex. He says he doesn’t care what she wants. She asks why he treats her this way, to which he says: “If I ask you politely, you won’t.”

In her posts on Instagram – deleted shortly afterwards – you can see that she has suffered bruises in several places. Blood runs from her lip to neck. The accompanying text: “For anyone who wants to know what Mason Greenwood actually does to me.” That same day, Mason Greenwood, a then 20-year-old Manchester United footballer, is arrested on suspicion of rape and assault. The club suspends him immediately. He does not train, does not play matches.

Now, more than a year and a half later, Manchester United is under heavy fire in England over this issue, a storm of criticism that has drowned out dissatisfaction about the weak start to the season for the time being. The club planned to include the now 21-year-old attacker, who has not been prosecuted, in the selection of coach Erik ten Hag again this summer. Only after fans, politicians and civil society organizations had expressed their disgust at this decision did United announce that it would say goodbye to Greenwood.

The club’s management has shown a “depressing lack of moral leadership,” it ruled The Guardianan opinion that, judging by comments in the British press and on social media, is widely shared.

How is it possible that Manchester United, which took months to decide on Greenwood and devise a detailed communications plan for his return, still lost control and had to back down at the last minute to prevent further reputational damage?

The Greenwood case is not an isolated one. In this age of constant (social) media attention and extensive commercialization, professional clubs, large and small, are expected to be held accountable when their players misbehave off the pitch. Even if it concerns misconduct that has not (yet) led to a conviction. This forces rapid, sharp choices, in which reputation issues, financial-sporting interests, ethical considerations and the duty of care as an employer can collide.

Put the player on hold immediately or wait for an investigation and continue to set up? Publicly condemn or protect him? Pay or not? These are questions that football administrators and trainers, used to judging players exclusively on their performance on the field, often do not know what to do with.

For example, the Scottish Raith Rovers (second tier) was forced to rent out striker David Goodwillie last year, a few days after the club had bought him. Reason: employees, the captain of the women’s team and the shirt sponsor threatened to leave, because Goodwillie had previously been convicted in a sexual offense case.

To the dismay of many, Quincy Promes was able to continue to play football at his club Ajax and at Orange, even though the attacker was suspected of a stabbing

The board of Heracles also had to go through the dust a year and a half ago. The club from Almelo allowed star Rai Vloet to train and even play a match while a criminal investigation was underway into the circumstances of a fatal car accident that he had caused. Rumors about reckless driving and alcohol in the game were already doing the rounds, only when they turned out to be true was Vloet suspended by Heracles. “We did it all wrong,” said general manager Rob Toussaint later VI.

The most famous recent case in the Netherlands is that of Quincy Promes. To the dismay of many, he was also able to continue to play football at his club Ajax and at Orange, even though the attacker was suspected of a stabbing that took place in the summer of 2020. When News hour revealed that Promes committed the stabbing in taped telephone conversations with relatives had confessed, said Erik ten Hag, still Ajax coach at the time, to await the judge’s verdict before drawing any conclusions. Ten Hag added that it was “sad” that Promes had “ended up” in the case.

This summer, Promes was sentenced to eighteen months in prison for aggravated assault, later this year he will stand trial in a drug trafficking case.

The attitude of Ajax and Heracles testifies to a strictly legal view of what is acceptable behavior for a professional football player. A view that, as evidenced by the public outcry, is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain. It goes without saying that financial and sporting interests have weighed heavily. Promes and Vloet were important players for their clubs, which also represented considerable value. Ajax succeeded in selling Promes to Spartak Moscow in the winter of 2021 for an estimated 8.5 million euros.

goldcrest

What was true for Promes is even more true for Greenwood. He has been playing football for United since he was six. Already in the youth academy everyone knows that the attacker is the real deal, writes The New York Times in 2020. The future of United, of the national team. Lightning fast, technical, smart, purposeful, graceful style, strong with both feet. A goldcrest.

On his debut, at the age of 17, in the Champions League away at Paris Saint-Germain in 2019, he contributes to a fine comeback in the few minutes he gets. Not much later he breaks through for good. He develops into a defining player at a young age. His estimated market value rises to 50 million euros. He will be number 11, formerly worn by club legends George Best and Ryan Giggs.

Until early 2022 his career comes to a standstill, after the alleged attempted rape of his girlfriend. Sports brand Nike terminates the sponsorship contract with Greenwood, game developer EA Sports removes him from the FIFA 22 game. United does not distance itself yet, sticks to sparse statements and awaits the police investigation. His salary, about 87,000 euros per week, will continue to be paid.

In October 2022, he will be charged with attempted rape, assault and ‘controlling and coercive behaviour’ – in connection with multiple incidents over an extended period of time. These will lapse earlier this year after key witnesses withdraw and “new material” comes to light, so that there is no prospect of a conviction, according to the British judiciary.

United then starts its own investigation into Greenwood. Not carried out by a specialized agency, but by a panel of executives within the club. A limitation of this investigation is that the club has no access to the evidence of justice. There is criticism that Greenwood’s perspective influences the research too emphatically. The club does speak with the mother of the alleged victim, but not with the woman herself.

“The evidence we did collect” has led to the “conclusion” “that Mason did not commit the acts of which he was accused,” Manchester United director Richard Arnold writes this week in an undisclosed statement about the investigation. . Greenwood himself also states in a statement that he has been “acquitted of all charges”. Actually that is not correct. After all, it never came to a lawsuit.

For United club management, so has The Athletic reconstructed in detail, it is nevertheless sufficient for Greenwood to return to Ten Hag’s selection this summer, who would not object to this himself. The club has planned sessions in recent weeks to meet any protests from employees and inform key stakeholders: sponsors, supporters’ representatives and the Manchester United women’s team. In addition, the club management is drawing up a list of journalists, politicians and civil society organizations who are expected to react “hostilely” to Greenwood’s return.

United has therefore provided criticism. Nevertheless, the club management is overwhelmed by the wave of protest and indignation that arises as soon as it is leaked that Manchester United intends to have Greenwood return to Ten Hag’s selection. Company employees, politicians, organizations that stand up for victims of domestic violence and abuse of women, supporter groups, public figures such as former player Gary Neville; en masse they express their disgust at the club’s intention.

Greenwood may not have been convicted, but the authenticity of the audio recording is not disputed. In addition, the attacker admits that he “made mistakes”. By accepting him in favor, the club is sending the wrong signal, critics say. “It gives wind to people who think they can get away with abuse anywhere,” said TV presenter and United fan Rachel Riley. “And I think it’s a slap in the face for the victims.”

The pressure is so great that United director Arnold revises his plan after a few days. On Monday, August 21, he announced in a written statement that Greenwood and Manchester United are separating. “Everyone involved, including Mason, recognizes the difficulties in resuming his career at Manchester United,” Arnold writes. “Together” it has been decided that he will seek refuge outside Old Trafford.

According to reports, no club has yet reported for the fallen top talent.