The transfer window is wide open and all sorts are taking place. Most that have been completed or close to being as such, are generally approved by the fans and the management of the club. However, there's one transfer that's being highly objected against. The player and club in question is Mason Greenwood going to Marseille.
Upon hearing the news, Marseille mayor, Benoit Payan, has strongly opposed the impending move. This comes after, in January 2022, he was suspended by Manchester United following his arrest on charges of attempted rape, engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
However, all charges were dropped when the Crown Prosecution Service withdrew them due to lack of co-operation from key witnesses. Payan told RMC, "I do not want my club to be covered in shame. It is not acceptable." He additionally said, "Greenwood’s behaviour is unspeakable, unacceptable. Hitting his partner… I saw images that deeply shocked me. Beating up his partner like this is shameful for a man and I don’t think he can have a place on the team."
The hashtag #GreenwoodNotWelcome has been used by fans protesting against the potential £27 million deal for the forward, who netted 10 times in all competitions for Getafe last season.
A statement on the OM Forum read, "As negotiations for the signing of Mason Greenwood are reported to be progressing, it is necessary to reiterate why this transfer seems unthinkable in light of the values upheld by the club and why it would represent a red line that could irreparably harm our passion for this club."
They also added, "In an area in which the conviction rate is ridiculously low given the reality of sexist and sexual violence and all the more so in cases in which the perpetrators are powerful and famous men, relying solely on the absence of a conviction in court to give carte blanche to the management to welcome Greenwood with open arms to the Commanderie is, to put it politely, frankly lazy,"
One fan wrote, "What makes us love this club is above all its values. Don't betray them." A large Marseille fan page simply posted a picture of Greenwood with the above mentioned hashtag and the tweet has since garnered more than 4000 likes and 1000 retweets.
Last season, Marseille finished eighth in Ligue 1 amid a period of managerial instability, with several different coaches taking charge. Roberto De Zerbi was appointed as the new head coach over the summer, following his departure from Premier League side, Brighton and Hove Albion.
Despite the outrage, new manager, Roberto De Zerbi, will defend Greenwood if he does sign for the club. He said, "Greenwood isn’t recruited yet so there isn’t much to say. He’s a champion, an international level player. I don’t know what happened, I’m not concentrating on private lives. When a player signs for the club, I consider him my child. Even if I can pull his ear in private, I will defend him publicly. My players are like my sons."
De Zerbi’s comments are sure to go down like a lead balloon with Marseille supporters, who issued a furious statement this week condemning the club’s move for Greenwood.
With this whole situation, I believe I'm on the fence. On the one hand, since he wasn't convicted, he shouldn't be excluded from any activities relating to football. However, on the opposite end, each country/society has their own set of values and ethics. Violate those values and/or ethics and you won't be accepted. Of those two, I would take priority with the latter. Morals should overrule everything else on matters like these.