When the announcement came last Thursday that criminal proceedings against Mason Greenwood, the Manchester United forward and England international, had been discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), it raised many questions.
A CPS spokesperson told The Athletic that charges had been dropped because “a combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light meant there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction. In these circumstances, we are under a duty to stop the case.”
While Greenwood has not been proven guilty, nor has he been cleared.
The 21-year-old was charged in October 2022 with one count of attempted rape, one count of controlling and coercive behaviour and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He has not played for United since his initial arrest in January 2022 and the club are conducting their own internal investigation.
Over the last week, thousands of words have been written and spoken about Greenwood's future. We've seen discussions focusing on his lost sponsorships, where else he could play if United decide to cut ties and the reduced wages he might have to take to continue his career elsewhere.
But among the various views and opinions, there has been a (collective) voice largely missing from the conversation, and it belongs to women.
The comments are turned off because, under UK law, those who complain of certain sexual offences are entitled to anonymity for life.
But this is an attempt to provide a platform for female voices. To ensure that all voices are heard.
Before Manchester United's 2-2 draw against Leeds United at Old Trafford on Wednesday, The Athletic spoke to match-going female home fans to ask how they felt about Greenwood and whether they would like to see him return to play for their club.
Within the dressing room of Manchester United Women, the feeling is strong.
Some players are deeply uncomfortable with the idea of Greenwood returning to the club. They have heard the audio released on social media last January and what it claims to show (though no one has ever said it is not genuine), and it is not something that can be easily erased from memory.
Their discomfort is shared by Natalie Burrell, a fan of Manchester United's men and women's teams, and founder of the Manchester United Women's Supporters' Club.
“I don't think he should play again for Manchester United,” she tells The Athletic. “It's one of the biggest clubs in the world. They need to make a statement and letting him back would be the worst thing they could do. It would set our club back in terms of what we're trying to do with our women's team and campaigns like Her Game Too, which are trying to encourage women to play and watch football.
Greenwood celebrates after scoring in the League Cup at Old Trafford in September 2019 (Photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
“I definitely don't want him back and I'm confident they won't, whether that's through selling him in the summer I don't know. People just think they're going to write it off (his contract runs until 2025 and has the option of another year) and maybe they will — that would be a real statement – but I'd be surprised. If they just sold him it'd be a good statement too.
“I just don't want to see him training. I don't want to see him in a (United) kit. I don't want to see him ever coming out at Old Trafford again.”
Gina has been a Manchester United fan for more than 30 years. It was a mutual love for the club that brought her together with her husband — the couple even received a message from Sir Alex Ferguson on their wedding day.
She says that “while 'charges dropped' is not conclusive either way, if there is any doubt from United that he is guilty of these allegations then I do not feel he should play for United, or any other club, again. I would hope that United would hold itself and its players to the highest standard.”
At Old Trafford against Leeds, Greenwood was taunted about the claims in a repeated chant from the visiting fans. Before kick-off, “She said no” could be heard ringing around the stadium. Around seven minutes into the game, the chant was repeated. And again, 13 minutes later during a pause in play.
In the second half, as United clawed their way back from 2-0 down to 2-2, Leeds fans were distracted from their theme, but by the full-time whistle the chants had made a return. “She said no” quickly escalated into more chants naming Greenwood.
“He's made his life too public,” says 73-year-old Pam, who went to the game with her husband, before kick-off. “But the times that we're living in, I don't really think there's any way back for him. We read an article saying he's probably going to China, which I think would be good for him. It's such a shame — such a talent for English football to lose.”
Would she want to see him back in a United shirt then? “Not particularly, no. Life isn't fair and lots of things happen in people's lives but, in this climate, I don't think it would be right. It would make it more toxic here for our players and at the moment United players are really together so I don't think it would be good for the team.
“I think he deserves to have a life and probably in years to come people will forget. But it's how youngsters are; they live their lives in the public too much.”
There were more strident views elsewhere.
Kaydee, 33, from Scotland says: “It's not difficult for me: I don't think he should return to the club at all.
“Everyone heard what they needed to hear (in reference to the audio that claims to illustrate Greenwood forcing himself on a girl). That's it.
“They definitely shouldn't have him back — not after how far the game has come to promote women. It's just not acceptable and a club like United should know better.
“He's a brilliant player. I was one of his biggest fans. But no, not at my club.”
A vendor outside Old Trafford on Wednesday night (Photo: Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
When Greenwood was made unavailable for selection last year, regular match-goer Katherine McDermott wrote to the club saying “he must never come back”.
The 42-year-old tells The Athletic her stance on it is this: “How can they as a club support women in International Women's Day, how can you have a foundation based on young girls when the recordings are out there?
“It's so easy for fans to see him as a hero,” she adds. “The whole business of football is toxic towards women. It's a behaviour where money talks.”
The club wrote back to Katherine, saying they were taking peoples' views on board, but she remains uncertain about what the future holds for Greenwood.
“If he returns I won't be seeing United anymore, which would break my heart because I'm a regular matchday goer,” she says. “I invest a lot of my emotion in it, like any fan. But I'd never see him in a red shirt.
“I'm just so tired of it: the misogyny towards women, the violence towards women which is historical across the world.
“What is the club saying to young boys (if he comes back)? That it's OK to cheer on this guy? And also, what are we saying to young girls? I can't be associated with it.”
For 24-year-old Molly who is at the game with her boyfriend, the situation isn't quite so clear cut.
“It's a difficult one,” she says. “I see both sides, so I'm quite open-minded about it. So I don't think I'd be against him coming back. Because stuff happens.”
The two women The Athletic speaks to next are far more certain in their views.
First is 29-year-old Jess, who says: “Even though he's not officially guilty, I still don't want him at the club. I don't think most women do because even though it's not gone to court we've still obviously seen the evidence that's out there.”
Would she want him to be sold? “I don't even think he'd be worth any money at this moment. If he can play in Saudi then play there but I don't think he's wanted.”
Rachel, 33 simply says: “Get rid of him. I don't want him playing for the club again. I don't really want to see him playing anywhere else either unless it's China or somewhere else far, far away.”
Pamela is at the game with her 21-year-old daughter. The 54-year-old says: “I don't think there's any way back for him. It'd be really wrong for him to come here. Even though he's not been found guilty of anything, I think with the whole circumstances, it would send completely the wrong message.”
Would she be happy to see him play elsewhere?
“Probably. I don't think it'd happen in this country (for Greenwood), but if he went abroad then I suppose it'd be up to that country.”
There is also the husband and wife duo who decline to give their name or age (but are likely in their 70s) and believe that Greenwood is simply a “young lad whose life has been ruined by social media — no one knows what went on.”
And 53-year-old Louise, who is adamant, like others, that “even though the charges have been dropped, I don't think he should play for the club anymore.”
Finally, 72-year-old United fan Margaret Regan says she is torn.
“I did see all the stuff on social media and there's no getting away from it, it was absolutely appalling. So there's 55 per cent telling me it's appalling and he has to go. But there's 45 per cent of me as a United fan thinking, well, we need him to play for us, unfortunately.
“But I just don't see how the club can now. I think he's damaged his own reputation. Which is sad, and I hope he's learnt from it.”
So, how would she feel if he was to make a return to the club?
“If he came back I wouldn't be 100 per cent happy. I think I'd choke on it, just for the sake of the club. But I wouldn't be happy as a woman.”
(Top photo: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)