The 21-year-old footballer “who had been arrested and prosecuted as part of an investigation opened in January 2022, is no longer the subject of criminal proceedings”. Charges of attempted rape and assault against Greenwood have been dropped by prosecutors, Greater Manchester Police said in a statement on Thursday (February 2nd).
Great hope of English football, Mason Greenwood had been arrested after the dissemination on social networks of photos and videos showing a young woman with a bleeding face, with bruises on her body. “To anyone who wants to know what Mason Greenwood is really doing to me”explained the caption of the publications.
According to a spokesperson for the British prosecution – the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) -, “the withdrawal of key witnesses and new elements” prompted the dropping of charges. “In these circumstances, he added, we are obliged to close the case. »
Second major sex scandal affecting Manchester clubs
In 2021, Mr. Greenwood had been accused by the same complainant of attempted rape and assault for acts allegedly committed in the same year, as well as controlling and coercive behavior, acts which the prosecution allegedly began, in 2018. Released in February 2022, then reincarcerated for not having respected his judicial control, he was released last October.
Trained at the Manchester United club, the footballer made his professional debut for the Red Devils in 2019. In 129 appearances, he scored 35 goals. In February 2021, he extended his contract until 2025. Within hours of the accusations, Manchester United suspended him.
His arrest sparked the second major sex scandal to hit Manchester clubs after the arrest of Benjamin Mendy, City’s French full-back, who was found not guilty of six rapes last month and is awaiting retrial for a seventh.