Manchester United forward and England international, Mason Greenwood had all criminal charges dropped against him yesterday. The 21-year-old was arrested in January last year for charges of rape, attempt to control, coercive behavior, assault, and causing bodily harm to his ex-girlfriend, Harriet Robson.
Mason was arrested soon after several social media posts emerged from his ex-girlfriend’s Instagram account which was reported to be hacked but the Greater Manchester Police took cognizance of the case and arrested the player. He was released on bail later on but was arrested again after a few months as he had made a breach of conditions imposed on his bail by the court.
Greenwood was suspended by Manchester United soon after the revelations took place and he was arrested, his sponsor NIKE also suspended him after his arrest, and gaming company EA Sports removed him from their soccer game, FIFA 22.
Mason Greenwood has charges against him dropped https://t.co/LpU8zsFd3G
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) February 2, 2023
But in a surprising turn of events yesterday, Greater Manchester Police announced that all the criminal charges against the 21-year-old were dropped as new evidence had come to light and several key witnesses to the prosecution case had withdrawn their statements. It is pertinent to mention here that Mason was scheduled to go for trial in the case in November 2023.
The Crown Prosecution Service in their statement said: “Given the significant media coverage of this case, it is only fair that we share the news that the 21-year-old man, who had been arrested and charged in connection with an investigation opened in January 2022, no longer faces criminal proceedings in relation to this”
They further added: “In this case, 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.”
Manchester United statement on Mason Greenwood 🔴 #MUFC
“Manchester United notes the decision of the Crown Prosecution Service that all charges against Mason Greenwood have been dropped. The club will now conduct its own process before determining next steps”. pic.twitter.com/f0beFfIdE8
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 2, 2023
Manchester United released a statement yesterday which said that they had taken note of the developments regarding Mason’s case and will take an action on his return after some steps. The statement read: “Manchester United notes the decision of the Crown Prosecution Service that all charges against Mason Greenwood have been dropped”
They added: “The club will now conduct its own process before determining the next steps. We will not make any further comment until that process is complete.”
Ever since the news came to light, fans voiced their opinion about Mason Greenwood returning to Manchester United and the gaming platform FIFA 23 sparked a huge debate on Twitter.
Fans react to Mason Greenwood’s probable return to FIFA 23
We went to Twitter to take a look at some of the fans who talked about Greenwood returning to Fifa 23.
A fan could be seen giving their opinion on the matter and saying that Mason Greenwood shouldn’t return to FIFA 23 even though all the charges against him are dropped. They said that their respect towards FIFA for taking a stand on such a sensitive topic will be huge.
They wrote: “My respect levels with increase dramatically if you ban Mason Greenwood @FIFAcom”
My respect levels with increase dramatically if you ban Mason Greenwood @FIFAcom
— Miles (@milesaway0515) February 3, 2023
Another fan said now that the charges against Mason have dropped, should all the organizations who suspended him after his arrest. It has to be mentioned here that sporting brands NIKE and FIFA were very swift to suspend their sponsorship with Mason and remove him from their game respectively.
They wrote: “Should Mason Greenwood receive official apologies from all the domestic abuse organizations and footballing governing bodies such as FIFA that suspended him? #mufc”
Should Mason Greenwood receive official apologies from all the domestic abuse organisations and footballing governing bodies such as fifa that suspended him? #mufc
— B&C and 23,793 others (@humanWikipediaa) February 2, 2023
We saw another fan who was confused and was asking whether FIFA will be reinstating Mason on their gaming platforms after the new development regarding his case has come to light.
They wrote: “@EASPORTSFIFA will you being re-instating @masongreenwood on the game now all charges have been dropped #Fifa #Fifa23 #Dropped #Freeman”
@EASPORTSFIFA will you being re-instating @masongreenwood on the game now all charges have been dropped #Fifa #Fifa23 #Dropped #Freeman
— Ryan Rumley (@Rum_Runner_12) February 2, 2023
The next couple of weeks will be very crucial regarding Mason Greenwood’s return to Manchester United and FIFA. Stay tuned with us for further updates on the case.
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