Mason Greenwood, the Red Devil forward, has been cleared of all charges after a lengthy and complex investigation.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced on May 20th that a combination of the withdrawal of critical witnesses and new material that came to light meant that there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.
The 21-year-old England international faced allegations of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behavior, and assault. All three charges are related to the same woman. The investigation began in January last year, and a trial date was set for November 27th.
However, the CPS decided to drop the charges following the withdrawal of key witnesses and the emergence of new material. Greenwood said in a statement released on his behalf: “In a statement issued on his behalf, Greenwood stated:
“I am pleased that this situation is finally over, and I would want to express my gratitude to my family, loved ones, and friends for their assistance..”
Manchester United also released a statement, saying that they will now conduct their process before determining what steps to take next.
They also confirmed that Greenwood would not return to training or playing until the process was complete. Chief Superintendent Michaela Kerr of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said that the decision to drop the charges had “not been taken lightly”.
She also reiterated GMP’s commitment to investigating allegations of violence against women and girls and urged victims not to be put off seeking help. United suspended Greenwood until further notice, and Nike terminated their sponsorship deal.
Electronic Arts had also removed him from active squads on their FIFA 22 game. Greenwood has been at United since he was six and made his senior debut in a Champions League victory away to Paris Saint-Germain in March 2019.
He has one senior cap for England, playing in the Nations League match against Iceland in September 2020. The clearing of charges will no doubt come as a relief to Greenwood, United, and their supporters. It is important to remember that the withdrawal of charges does not mean any wrongdoing occurred