Legal proceedings against Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood, who had been accused of attempted rape and assault, have been dropped, British police announced on Thursday.

The 21-year-old footballer, “who was arrested and prosecuted in an investigation opened in January 2022, is no longer facing criminal charges,” Greater Manchester Police said in a statement.

According to a spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS, the British prosecution), "the withdrawal of key witnesses and new elements" motivated the dropping of the charges.

“In these circumstances, he added, we are obliged to close the case.

»

A case triggered by a video

Mason Greenwood, a great hope of English football, was arrested in January 2022 after the dissemination on social networks of photos and videos showing a young woman with a bloody face, with bruises on her body.

“To anyone who wants to know what Mason Greenwood is actually doing to me,” read the comment accompanying the posts.

He had been accused by the same complainant of attempted rape and assault for acts allegedly committed in 2021, as well as controlling and coercive behavior, acts which had started according to the prosecution in 2018. Released in February 2022 , then reincarcerated for not having respected his judicial control, he was released last October.

Suspended by his club, dropped by his sponsor

Trained at Manchester United, Greenwood 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.

Then his sponsor, Nike, dropped him. 

His arrest sparked the second major sex scandal affecting Manchester clubs after the arrest of Benjamin Mendy, City's French full-back, who was found not guilty last month of six rapes and is awaiting a new trial for a seventh.

Sport

England: Footballer Mason Greenwood charged with attempted rape and assault

Sport

Benjamin Mendy accused of rape: The defender found not guilty of six rapes, new trial on June 26 for the seventh

  • Soccer

  • Manchester United

  • Justice

  • sexual assault

  • Sport