A sports club will always be in the spot light on how they conduct their business on and off the field. We have seen how Manchester United have distanced themselves from Greenwood and rightly so. If it shows they protected the player which it seems likely they have in previous cases then the spotlight will fall firmly on the club. I am not saying sponsors will walk away but who knows what will come out over the coming months with a trial expected to take place. If they have indeed covered things up then they are far less marketable and being associated with them in any form will be a major concern for sponsors.
The Manchester United marketing team had to move very quickly removing the player from their online shop and store.
Nike have already cancelled their contract with the player along with EA Sports removing him from their FIFA 22 active game and future squads. Some may suggest this is premature as the player hasn't been tried and convicted yet, but the reality is any association with this individual is bad for business.
How bad you may wonder is take for example a club resigning a player yesterday who was with them in 2007/8. He was accused of rape but the case was dropped due to lack of evidence back in 2011. He paid the victim $100 000 after it was taken to civil court being ordered to pay damages.
This was 10 years ago and after he signed on the dotted line yesterday the club sponsor pulled their sponsorship immediately. The reality is with these crimes against women they are seen as zero tolerance.
The fallout of being associated with such a crime by supporting those is seen as siding with the culprit and not the victim. Whatever happens with the Greenwood case moving forward he is now tarnished forever and it will be like he doesn't exist. This is the right and only signal that clubs can send out to their fan base and to their own players.
I know we talk about the cancel culture with social media which is fickle and pathetic most of the time this however is for real. Manchester United fans are returning the number 11 player shirts asking for refunds. The club will have no choice but to accept this as I don't see how they can't say no. Club sponsor Team Viewer and Cadbury are also having to make sure any adverts are removed linking Greenwood to themselves.
