The backlash stems from January 2022, when Greater Manchester Police arrested Greenwood following social media posts by his girlfriend showing severe physical injuries alongside a shocking audio recording of alleged abuse. Manchester United suspended Greenwood indefinitely, while Nike cancelled his sponsorship contract without compensation and EA Sports removed Greenwood from FIFA.
In February 2023, the Crown Prosecution Service dropped all criminal charges after key witnesses withdrew and new material emerged. Despite legal clearance, intense public pressure and objections from anti-violence charities prevented a return to Manchester United. The club concluded in August 2023 that Greenwood should continue his career elsewhere, leading to his transfers to Getafe and Marseille.
