07 September 2023 , 10:14
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Football Manager's developer Sports Interactive have confirmed Mason Greenwood will be reinstated to the next edition of the video game.
The England international, 21, was removed from Football Manager in February 2022 following his arrest the previous month. Charges of attempted rape, engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) seven months ago.
Manchester United conducted their own investigation after Greenwood's charges were dropped and confirmed he wouldn't play for the club again in August. The forward then completed a season-long loan move to La Liga outfit Getafe.
Greenwood is now set to return to Football Manager for its 2024 version, after finding a new club. It's unclear whether EA Sports FC, the successor to the FIFA video game series, will follow suit, but they are expected to make an announcement shortly.
"Players or officials serving indefinite suspensions from football, for any reason, are removed from Football Manager at the first opportunity," a Sports Interactive spokesperson told The Athletic. "When suspensions or playing restrictions are lifted, the player or official will be reinstated in-game at the next scheduled update."
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Greenwood was removed from FIFA 22 following his arrest and was not added to FIFA 23, the last FIFA video game to be developed by EA, once his charges were dropped in February. Football Manager took similar action.
Getafe have faced criticism for signing Greenwood due to the severity of the allegations made against him. They've also been slammed for their tweets promoting the transfer, with one containing the words "Mason Mania".
Greenwood will spent this season at Getafe (Getty Images)Yet Getafe's sporting director Ruben Reyes has defended the move. He told reporters: "We did what we do - sign players that are available to sign. There is no need for us to handle anything (off the pitch).
"We have signed a footballer who is just the same as (fellow signings) Diego Rico and Oscar Rodriguez, and that’s it. We have to do our job, and that’s what we focus on."
It's unclear when Greenwood will be ready to play after missing 20 months of first-team football. Getafe's next game is at home to Osasuna on September 17. "I am very happy to be here," Greenwood told reporters following his move.
"I have been training for four or five months, I am getting up to speed and have been training with my team-mates and feel quite good. We take it one game at a time and the next home game is coming in a few weeks and we will try to win and do our best."