Mason Greenwood will not be back with Manchester United “until further notice” after allegations of rape and sexual assault were made against the 20-year-old forward.
Greenwood, who is a Manchester United academy product and has made 129 appearances for the senior Red Devils side, will be unavailable indefinitely as authorities conduct their investigation.
Why is Mason Greenwood not playing for Man United?
On Jan. 30, photos, videos, and voice memos were posted to the Instagram account of a woman accusing Greenwood of assault.
The graphic images depicted bruises, cuts and blood accompanied by text implicating the Manchester United player. There was also a voice memo of a verbal altercation allegedly involving Greenwood.
After being referred to police, Greenwood was reportedly arrested on “suspicion of rape and sexual assault” and held in custody for questioning. Police have not revealed the name of the victim nor the person who is the subject of the investigation.
The posts on Instagram have since been deleted.
What was said about Mason Greenwood?
“Mason Greenwood will not return to training or play matches until further notice,” a statement from Manchester United read on Jan. 30.
The statement in full reads: “We are aware of images and allegations circulating on social media. We will not make any further comment until the facts have been established.
“Manchester United does not condone violence of any kind.”
The local police also released a statement, saying, “Greater Manchester Police were made aware earlier today (Sunday 30 January) of online social media images and videos posted by a woman reporting incidents of physical violence.
“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. He remains in custody for questioning. Enquiries are ongoing.”
Nike, which officially sponsors Greenwood, also released a statement to The Athletic on Jan. 30, saying, “We are deeply concerned by the disturbing allegations and will continue to closely monitor the situation.”
A day later, the sportswear giants released an update, suspending the relationship with Greenwood.
According to the BBC, Greenwood has not responded to the allegations at this time.
What happens next?
The statement released by Manchester United gives no timeline for a potential return, nor does it commit to a return for Greenwood at all.
As indicated in its public comment, the club will wait until the conclusion of the investigation and until the “facts have been established” before making a determination on Greenwood’s future with the club.
Manchester United next returns to the field after the international break in an FA Cup fourth round match against Middlesbrough on Feb. 4. The Red Devils currently sit fourth in the Premier League table on 38 points as they seek to lock up a berth in next season’s UEFA Champions League.
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The Red Devils have also advanced to this season’s Champions League Round of 16 and get set to meet Atletico Madrid in a series that begins on February 23, while the Manchester derby against Man City is scheduled a short time later on March 6.
Greenwood has been a productive player for Manchester United since his rise to becoming a first-team regular in 2019. He signed a four-year deal with the club in 2021.
He has scored 23 Premier League goals since breaking through as a teenager. This season he has 18 appearances in 22 Premier League matches with five goals scored.