|
Post by Lord Emsworth on Aug 18, 2023 12:56:28 GMT
It's fair comment Doug - he is innocent in the eyes of the law BUT we all heard the tape which was incredibly damning. And, given the reasons why the case was dropped, many people will have concluded that he has "allegedly" got away with it Must admit I haven't and it sounds like I don't want to. Clubs no longer have any control or ability to influence players anymore, sadly. They live their lives in bubbles of privilege where they are used to just getting everything they want. What was the reason the case was dropped? The Crown Prosecution Service said the charges (attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm) were dropped after key witnesses withdrew their involvement and "new material came to light" Make of that what you will You can still find the audio and photos online. Extremely disturbing they are too. Had it gone to court those would have been very damning pieces of evidence against him. Once heard and seen, you're not likely to forget the contents. It shows a side of his character that no claim of “innocence” or withdrawal of key witnesses can ever erase * The fact that Man Utd have not dismissed him shows how much they want to find a way to retain his services which speaks volumes both about the club and the modern game * On the first day of the season, a group of Manchester United supporters released a statement expressing their concerns about “taking Greenwood back”. It “tells us, as women, that we don’t matter,” it said, “that the 1 in 4 women who experience domestic abuse and/or sexual assault in the UK don’t matter. It tells us that the men who make the club money matter”
|
|
|
Post by doug61 on Aug 18, 2023 13:29:06 GMT
Must admit I haven't and it sounds like I don't want to. Clubs no longer have any control or ability to influence players anymore, sadly. They live their lives in bubbles of privilege where they are used to just getting everything they want. What was the reason the case was dropped? The Crown Prosecution Service said the charges (attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm) were dropped after key witnesses withdrew their involvement and "new material came to light" Make of that what you will You can still find the audio and photos online. Extremely disturbing they are too. Had it gone to court those would have been very damning pieces of evidence against him. Once heard and seen, you're not likely to forget the contents. It shows a side of his character that no claim of “innocence” or withdrawal of key witnesses can ever erase * The fact that Man Utd have not dismissed him shows how much they want to find a way to retain his services which speaks volumes both about the club and the modern game * On the first day of the season, a group of Manchester United supporters released a statement expressing their concerns about “taking Greenwood back”. It “tells us, as women, that we don’t matter,” it said, “that the 1 in 4 women who experience domestic abuse and/or sexual assault in the UK don’t matter. It tells us that the men who make the club money matter” I doubt United want to lose the money, they would have to pay up his contract as he was not found guilty, usually all comes down to money. I wonder how many of the United fans want nothing to do with Giggs now, similar situation with violence yet charges dropped, yet a hero to United fans. I believe the "crown" is fully entitled to still bring charges, the tapes would be in the public domain now and the woman involved would merely be a "hostile witness", both the woman and the Crown should want to prosecute to keep other potential victims safe. All seems a bit odd.
|
|
|
Post by stu77 on Aug 18, 2023 13:48:37 GMT
It's obvious that money turns some of these people into absolute scum. Sadly he's probably financially secure for life. Whereas he deserves to be searching tips to survive.
|
|
|
Post by Lord Emsworth on Aug 18, 2023 13:53:01 GMT
I'm sure there's a clause in his contract about gross misconduct and/or bringing the club into disrepute that allows them to sack him without any financial obligation
They've been paying Greenwood throughout the entire process, and continue to do so
This is all about a valuable asset they are reluctant to lose for nothing - most people probably think that there are some circumstances when the money is irrelevant and this is one of them
If this was a member of the catering team or a cleaner they'd have been gone shortly after the news broke - sacked for gross misconduct with no notice, no compensation etc. Unlike in a court, an employer does not have to prove "beyond reasonable doubt" that the allegations are true, just that in "the balance of probability" they probably are
The CPS will only bring a case if they feel it's strong enough to succeed. In this instance without the co-operation of key witnesses they know it can't be won
|
|
|
Post by Lord Emsworth on Aug 20, 2023 8:18:12 GMT
Mitoma, goal of the month?
|
|
|
Post by doug61 on Aug 20, 2023 14:41:53 GMT
Brighton looking a very useful team again, although Wolves should have gone in 2-1 up at half time, they surely can't keep missing all the chances they make. Brighton look a tough team for anyone to play, will be looking for a top 6 finish no doubt.
|
|
|
Post by Lord Emsworth on Aug 20, 2023 20:01:37 GMT
Brighton looking a very useful team again, although Wolves should have gone in 2-1 up at half time, they surely can't keep missing all the chances they make. Brighton look a tough team for anyone to play, will be looking for a top 6 finish no doubt. Top 6? Steady on. The Europa League, injuries, fatigue etc will doubtless take their toll. A top half finish and a tilt at the cup competitions will do me, but who knows? These are heady days for the club
|
|
|
Post by doug61 on Aug 21, 2023 10:29:07 GMT
Brighton looking a very useful team again, although Wolves should have gone in 2-1 up at half time, they surely can't keep missing all the chances they make. Brighton look a tough team for anyone to play, will be looking for a top 6 finish no doubt. Top 6? Steady on. The Europa League, injuries, fatigue etc will doubtless take their toll. A top half finish and a tilt at the cup competitions will do me, but who knows? These are heady days for the club If you take the Premier as a 3 part thing then I thing Brighton have shown a consistency to put them above Palace, Brentford, west ham and other sides in the "middle section", I se the division as a "top 8" a "middle 8" and a bottom 6 and Brighton have earned a top 8 spot. The real trouble is that it's nigh on impossible to go from the consolation Europe competitions to the top 4 without spending 250million a year plus each season. Then again with teams like Chelsea willing to spend over 100 million on Brighton players with just 1 senior season behind them, careful spending and good talent spotting, anything is possible.
|
|
|
Post by stu77 on Aug 21, 2023 14:09:59 GMT
Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood will leave the club by mutual agreement after a six-month internal investigation into his conduct.
Greenwood was arrested in January 2022 following allegations surrounding material which was published online.
Charges against the 21-year-old England international, including attempted rape and assault, were dropped on 2 February 2023.
United said in a statement: "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.
"Based on the evidence available to us, we have concluded that the material posted online 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."
In a statement, Greenwood accepted he had "made mistakes" and took his "share of responsibility", but added: "I did not do the things I was accused of."
He said: "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. 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."
What is the background? In material published online, a man - alleged to be Greenwood - could be heard shouting at a woman to "move your [expletive] legs up". The woman responded that she did not want sex, and the man replied: "I don't give a [expletive] what you want, you little [expletive]."
The man then says: "Push me again and watch what happens to you."
Greenwood was charged in October 2022 with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
After the charges were dropped in February 2023, the Crown Prosecution Service said key witnesses had withdrawn and new material had come to light, meaning there was "no longer a realistic prospect of conviction".
At the time, a statement released on Greenwood's behalf said he was "relieved".
United then started their own internal investigation.
In a statement last week, the club said they had gathered "extensive evidence and context not in the public domain" and spoken to "numerous people with direct involvement or knowledge of the case".
In an open letter to fans on Monday, United chief executive Richard Arnold said the extra evidence included the alleged victim requesting the police to drop their investigation in April 2022, and the club receiving alternative explanations for the material that was posted online.
"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," Arnold said.
An announcement of the investigation's results was expected before United's opening Premier League game of the season against Wolves on 14 August, but the decision was delayed amid fierce debate about Greenwood's potential reintegration at Old Trafford.
Fans protested outside Old Trafford against his potential return before the Wolves game, and a group of female United supporters said they wanted the club to "demonstrate a zero-tolerance approach" towards violence against women.
Female Fans Against Greenwood's Return put out a lengthy statement to say Greenwood's reintegration would tell them "as women, that we don't matter".
The club said they wanted to consult with their women's team, some of whom were part of England's World Cup squad playing in Australia, before announcing a decision about Greenwood's future.
|
|
|
Post by personunknown on Aug 21, 2023 14:23:14 GMT
Fuck off to Saudi Greenwood, women treated like shit there.
|
|
|
Post by Lord Emsworth on Aug 21, 2023 14:31:22 GMT
I thought this would happen
Greenwood's too toxic to play for Man Utd but they still want to be able to recoup some cash by flogging him
I'd have a hell of a lot more respect for Man Utd if all proceeds when to women's shelters, and if Greenwood actually came out and acknowledged what he'd done and then contributed money and time to educating other young men about how wrong what he did was.
|
|
|
Post by Lord Emsworth on Aug 21, 2023 14:38:49 GMT
This is from an article on The Athletic...
If United truly believed they made the right decision to bring him back, it was notable that the leaders of the club had neither the willingness nor the requisite trust of stakeholders to truly come out and argue their point. Arnold’s planned video was not published. It was not a dissimilar outcome to the case of the European Super League plans, when United were among the clubs who found themselves utterly incapable of articulating their position and instead found themselves consumed by critics who filled the vacuum. Essentially, United have been pulled away from a decision they appeared to want to make.
It shows just how far the club have fallen in terms of the way they are run. Their lack of coherent values and their consistent inability to think about the bigger picture
|
|
|
Post by stu77 on Aug 21, 2023 14:39:31 GMT
He's only sorry he got caught.
A disgusting individual.
If he does end up in Saudi on massive money it just looks even worse.
|
|
|
Post by Lord Emsworth on Aug 21, 2023 17:07:28 GMT
He's only sorry he got caught. A disgusting individual. If he does end up in Saudi on massive money it just looks even worse. Agree - maybe even the Saudis will think twice about such a toxic individual
|
|
|
Post by personunknown on Aug 21, 2023 17:52:14 GMT
He's only sorry he got caught. A disgusting individual. If he does end up in Saudi on massive money it just looks even worse. Agree - maybe even the Saudis will think twice about such a toxic individual The same Saudis that have been shooting and killing Yemeni refugees, they won't give a toss that he's a wife beater.
|
|