Set football aside and there could only be one outcome

in the end, it wasn’t so much a decision as an instinctive reaction. What was done couldn’t be undone. The seen couldn’t be unseen. The heard cannot be dubbed over. Manchester United had no choice but to terminate their association with Mason Greenwood. Yes, if looking at it from a purely football perspective, there may well be a tinge of ‘What might have been’. But that such is the case is nobody’s fault but the culprit’s.

The footballer. He who was supposed to be the pinup boy for the current generation at Old Trafford. An electrifying talent. Bestowed with the most iconised jersey number in Manchester United history. That of Best and Giggs. Superstitious types might think the sacred garment is jinxed. But, in all three cases the outcomes which befell the holders thereof was of their own making.

Greenwood had looked to be set for a return

You see, sometimes football just doesn’t f*****g matter. Naturally Greenwood still protests his innocence. Though in reality, once the clips which have now been seen ad nauseum entered the public domain, the die was cast. The symbolism and reputational damage likely to be foisted on United had they accommodated the player’s return far outweighs any benefit which might have accrued from having Greenwood on the pitch.

Do I believe in rehabilitation and re-integration? Absolutely, after all, there have been individuals who engaged in nefarious activity and thereafter ran for high office and in some cases got there.However, hearing the words “Mason Greenwood” and” abuser” together would forever be linked with Manchester United. And that, aside from the commercial or football side of this situation, would be a horrendous insult to female staff, players and football fans around the world.

Manchester United and all associated with the club and what it stands for are too big and influential to allow something like the Greenwood affair be a stain on its copybook.

My only comment from the point of view of the player is this – you’d hope he gets the rehabilitation assistance to resume his career somewhere someday. He is not the victim here though. His partner could be forgiven for thinking she has been forgotten in all this.

That cannot ever be allowed to happen. Not just with Harriet, but any abuse victim. One is speaking from experience here. He may well be able to rebuild his career and reform himself, but those who have been effected by his behaviour face a much longer and more arduous healing journey.

United will pick up another promising player in an eye blink. Some things are more important than football.