RACHEL Riley has broken her silence after threatening to pull her support for Manchester United if Mason Greenwood returned to the club.The Prem giants today announced their striker, 21, would not be returning to Old Trafford following his suspension.
Rachel Riley had previously said she would not be able to support Man Utd should Greenwood return
Greenwood has not played for Utd since his arrest last JanuaryCredit: Getty
Posting on social media the maths whizz praised a Women’s Aid tweet as a “great statement” after the latest Greenwood news broke this afternoon.
The national charity’s Twitter account had posted: “We know that the news from @ManUtd this afternoon, that Mason Greenwood will be moving on from the club, will be a relief to many survivors of abuse.
“This case has brought back painful memories for many people.”
Rachel, 37, previously said that if striker Greenwood is allowed to return, she would not be able to continue supporting the club.
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Greenwood was arrested and charged with attempted rape, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour back in January 2022.
He had all charges dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in February this year.
In a statement released this afternoon, Manchester United confirmed they had finished the probe into Greenwood.
But they did not reveal what the striker’s future holds – including whether his £75,000-a-week contract will be terminated or if he will be put on loan or sold.
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Greenwood’s future has not been revealed but Utd have ten days to sell him or get him out on loan before the transfer window closes.
If they don’t make the 11pm cut-off on September 1, Utd face paying the England star millions to cut his contract.
They could only go beyond the deadline if Greenwood is picked up by a Saudi club as their window closes on September 20.
Greenwood’s fate had remained uncertain after he was suspended by Utd in the wake of his charge for attempted rape, assault and coercive control – even after the case was dropped.
The club said they had taken into account the “wishes, rights and perspective of the alleged victim along with the club’s standards and values, and sought to collate as much information and context as possible”.
Utd confirmed they examined evidence that was “not in the public domain”, including “from those with direct knowledge of the case”.
The club added: “Based on the evidence available to us, we have concluded that the material did not provide a full picture and that Mason did not commit the offences in respect of which he was originally charged
“That said, as Mason publicly acknowledges today, he has made mistakes which he is taking responsibility for.
“All those involved, including Mason, recognise the difficulties with him recommencing his career at Manchester United.
“It has therefore been mutually agreed that it would be most appropriate for him to do so away from Old Trafford, and we will now work with Mason to achieve that outcome.”
Greenwood also released a statement where he insisted he had not done what he was accused of but was “learning to understand my responsibilities as a professional footballer”.
He added: “I want to start by saying I understand that people will judge me because of what they have seen and heard on social media, and I know people will think the worst.
“I was brought up to know that violence or abuse is wrong, I did not do the things I was accused of, and in February I was cleared of all charges.
“However, I fully accept I made mistakes, and I take my share of responsibility for the situations which led to the social media post.
“Today’s decision has been part of a collaborative process between Manchester United, my family and me.
“The best decision for us all, is for me to continue my football career away from Old Trafford, where my presence will not be a distraction for the club.
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“I thank the club for their support since I joined aged seven. There will always be a part of me which is United. I am enormously grateful to my family and all my loved ones for their support, and it is now for me to repay the trust those around me have shown.
“I intend to be a better footballer, but most importantly a good father, a better person, and to use my talents in a positive way on and off the pitch.”
Richard Arnold’s open letter to fans
Dear fans,
Now that we have concluded and announced the outcome of the club’s investigation into Mason Greenwood, I want to be direct and transparent with our fans about the process and the reasons for our decision.
This was an internal disciplinary investigation between employer and employee which would ordinarily take place outside of the public eye. Given the public nature of the allegations and Mason’s profile, I acknowledge that this was not an ordinary situation, but I felt it important that we still follow due process and, so far as possible, avoid media comment until I had made a definitive decision.
[The alleged victim’s] welfare, wishes and perspective have been central to the club’s approach ever since, as have the club’s standards and values. While we immediately concluded that Mason should be suspended pending investigation, we were also conscious of our duty of care towards him and the importance of making a decision based on full information. Until February this year, this was a matter for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service. It was only when charges were dropped that the club discussed the allegations with Mason and others involved in the case.
Our investigation sought to collate as much evidence as possible to establish facts and context. This was not a quick or straightforward process for a variety of reasons. It was essential for us to respect the rights and wishes of the alleged victim.
Also, we have limited powers of investigation which meant we were reliant on third party cooperation. Timings have also been influenced by my desire to minimise the impact of the investigation on our men’s and women’s teams, as well as our Lionesses. I acknowledge that this gave more time for speculation, but the alternative would have been to compromise due process or create untimely disruption.
While we were unable to access certain evidence for reasons we respect, the evidence we did collate led us to conclude that Mason did not commit the acts he was charged with. I am restricted as to what I can say for legal reasons, including the alleged victim’s ongoing right to anonymity, but I am able to share the following with you which should give you some insight into the complexity of this case.
• The alleged victim requested the police to drop their investigation in April 2022.
• The alleged victim’s family participated in the process and were given the opportunity to review and correct our factual findings.
Last week the media reported that we had decided to reintegrate Mason and that elements of a plan to do so had been leaked to them. Reintegration was one of the outcomes we considered and planned for. For context, over the course of the past six months several outcomes have been contemplated and planned for, and my view has evolved as our process progressed. While the ultimate decision rested with me, I was taking various factors and views into account right up until the point of finalising my decision.
While I am satisfied that Mason did not commit the acts he was charged with, Mason’s accepted that he has made mistakes which he takes responsibility for. I am also mindful of the challenge that Mason would face rebuilding his career… in the harsh spotlight of Manchester United. Further, this case has provoked strong opinions, and it is my responsibility to minimise any distraction to the unity we are seeking within the club.
Although we have decided that Mason will seek to rebuild his career away from Manchester United, that does not signal the end of this matter. The club will continue to offer its support both to the alleged victim and Mason to help them rebuild and move forward positively with their lives.
Thank you for your continued support,
Richard Arnold.
Greenwood had a string of charges dropped against himCredit: AFP More
