Sports

Greenwood accuser breaks silence to thank supporters, detectives continue probe

Published

3 years ago

February 4, 2022

Mason Greenwood’s accuser has broken her silence to thank her supporters after the Manchester United star was released on bail.

The student, 18, said the past week has been ‘difficult’ and announced she will not be making any further statements pending the police inquiries..

She first made allegations against the striker, 20, on Sunday, posting photos and audio allegedly detailing her claims of abuse.

Greenwood has now been banished from England and Manchester United as police continue to investigate the claims.

The forward was released on bail yesterday ‘pending further investigation’ after being arrested on suspicion of rape.

Greater Manchester Police then announced further investigations into allegations of assault, sexual assault and making threats to kill.

England manager Gareth Southgate has ruled out even considering him for selection until all legal proceedings are over, The Sun reported.

Man Utd have also reiterated that Greenwood will not play for the club or train until further notice.

Greenwood has not played for England since being sent home after his debut against Iceland in a Nations League game in September 2020.

He and Manchester City’s Phil Foden were told to leave for breaking Covid quarantine guidelines to meet two women in the team hotel.

This week United confirmed supporters will be able to exchange their shirts with Mason Greenwood’s name emblazoned on the back for free.

The club removed all merchandise related to the forward from their website on Monday, with members of their furious fanbase returning their replica shirts to the megastore at Old Trafford.

Nike have suspended their sponsorship deal with Greenwood, while United’s shirt sponsors TeamViewer said they are ‘closely monitoring developments’.

Official partner Cadbury, meanwhile, will not feature him on their marketing products.

And now, a spokesperson for United has said that fans can exchange their current shirts with a new one with a different player’s name on.

Greenwood’s name has been entirely removed from the list of players on the club’s online store, with searches for his name drawing a blank.

He has now turned his Cheshire mansion into a fortress, having been bailed by police ‘pending further investigation’ after being arrested on suspicion of rape, sexual assault and threats to kill.

The 20-year-old spent three nights in a cell after first being detained on Sunday, but was released from custody this morning after hours of interviews at a police station.

Two private security guards are now protecting his house, which is understood to be owned by an unnamed former Premier League player. An expert also arrived to install a £350 home security system, which can record up to eight CCTV cameras.

Greenwood was arrested after pictures and audio circulated on social media, alleging that he attacked a woman. He was later re-arrested while in custody on suspicion of sexual assault and threats to kill his alleged victim.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: ‘A 20-year-old man arrested on suspicion of the rape and assault of a woman has been released on bail pending further investigation’.

United have already insisted that he will not play or train with the club while the police carry out their investigation. He has also disappeared from the new version of FIFA 22, a popular football video game, in recent days.

Players and staff are thought to be ‘shocked and appalled’ by the allegations.

United’s most high-profile players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Pogba and David de Gea, appear to have unfollowed Greenwood on Instagram, despite them following other members of the senior squad.

Marcus Rashford, Edinson Cavani, Fred and Jesse Lingard were also among those not following the striker, although Rashford, Lingard and Fred have re-followed him.

Victor Lindelof was another to have stopped following Greenwood’s profile, although the defender appears to have now re-followed, too.

Club captain Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes are in a group of players who, so far, are also continuing to follow their team-mate.

With the club plunged into crisis, one source said: ‘Everyone is very shaken up. This is very different from the normal things they have to deal with.’

Meanwhile, manager Ralf Rangnick and the rest of his first-team have returned to training, and will attempt to focus on an FA Cup clash against Middlesbrough.

MailOnline has contacted the FA for comment.