A section of Manchester United supporters are planning to protest against the reintegration of Mason Greenwood into the club’s first team.
Reports indicate that those protesting regularly attend United’s games and they don’t want to reveal their identity yet.
Based on reports from The Athletic, the protesters are preparing to make their feelings known before the Red Devils first game of the 2023/24 season against Wolves at Old Trafford.
Mason Greenwood was apprehended in January 2022 and he was subsequently suspended by Manchester United, after charges of alleged rape and assault were levelled against him.
However, in February 2023, the Crown Prosecution Service announced that he had been cleared of the indictments due to lack of substantial evidence.
Additionally, important “witnesses” concerned with the case also withdrew their involvement in the legal matter.
Is Manchester United conducting an internal investigation on Greenwood?
After Mason Greenwood was acquitted and discharged, Manchester United put out a brief statement stating they would conduct an internal investigation regarding the future of the Englishman.
However, they haven’t revealed the result of their internal investigation and this has resulted in mixed reactions from fans.
Some are concerned over the timeframe it has taken for Manchester United to conduct the investigation, while others feel the delay from the club is inimical to all parties involved.
Meanwhile, the banner made by the protestors was coated in Manchester United colors and it reads:
“Female Fans Demand No Greenwood Return – End Violence Against Women.”
One of the individuals organizing the protest explained that the reason for the protest was for Manchester United to “make the right decision” regarding Greenwood’s future.
The protester was brash in his assertion on the 21-year-old, expressing that if players don’t meet up to standards, then they should be shipped out.
The individual said: “It’s time to say, “We have high standards at United about how we expect players to conduct themselves and, if you do not meet those standards, you need to be moved out.”
Statement from those opposing Mason Greenwood’s return
The protestors also have a Twitter account and they have put out a statement which outlined their opposition to Greenwood’s return to Manchester United.
Excerpt from their statement reads: “Today, we female fans of Manchester United are demanding that the club abide by their duty of care towards their female fans and employees and demonstrate a zero tolerance approach towards acts of violence against women by refusing to bring Mason Greenwood back into the squad.”
They claim that bringing back Mason Greenwood to the squad would only mean that Manchester United are enabling “sexual assault and domestic abuse”.
Their statement reads: “It also tells us, as women, that we don’t matter.”
They also stated that United’s reintegration of Greenwood sends a message that their “safety doesn’t matter”.
Their lengthy statement basically signified their opposition towards the return of Greenwood, despite the 21-year-old being acquitted of the charges leveled against him.
Reports in recent weeks have claimed that Manchester United will make a decision on Mason Greenwood before the start of the 2023/24 season.
However, subsequent reports claim that the club is consulting “key stakeholders” before making a decision regarding the Englishman’s future.
Manchester United supporters are divided over the future of Mason Greenwood
Amid the pushback from a group of supporters, there is also a large chunk of fans who are hopeful of seeing Greenwood return to action for Manchester United.
Manchester United excluded the 21-year-old in their recently released provisional squad numbers list and it further plunged the matter into more uncertainty.
Mason Greenwood last featured for the Red Devils in a 1-0 win against West Ham United on January 22, 2022.
The youngster last scored for the Old Trafford club in a 3-1 victory over Brentford, three days before the game against the Hammers.
Anyway, despite Greenwood not being included in Manchester United provisional squad numbers list, his No 11 shirt number has not been handed to any other player.
Meanwhile, it appears a decision concerning the future of Mason Greenwood at Old Trafford will be made by Lionesses’ stars.
Earlier in 2023, it was revealed that members of Manchester United women’s team were not in support of Greenwood return to the club.
Due to this seeming reality, some of the club’s women players will be consulted before a decision is taken.
Manchester United shot-stopper Mary Earps and midfielders Ella Toone and Katie Zelem are currently participating in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
It is unknown if players in the women’s team of Manchester United have changed their stance, but reports indicate they are part of the key stakeholders that will be consulted.
