The former footballer whose career inspired the film Bend It Like Beckham has said she fears the sport will continue to put money before women, following Manchester United’s delay in announcing whether Mason Greenwood’s contract will be terminated over an allegation of attempted rape, which he denies.
Permi Jhooti, who was a member of Europe’s first professional women’s team in 2000, has voiced her concerns about the game’s commitment to stamping out misogyny, while the Premier League’s most successful club continue to prevaricate on the outcome of an investigation into the young striker.
Manchester United were expected to reveal their decision on Mr Greenwood’s future before their first game of the season last Monday. It was reported this week that board members expect the player to be retained, but the club denied that a decision had been made.
Ms Jhooti, whose story was a motivation for Bend it Like Beckham’s director and co-writer Gurinder Chadha, told i that success on the pitch and concerns about profits are too often prioritised before morality.
“It’s not the first time. Look at past cases: in the end, if this player can make you money, that’s always what counts,” she said in an interview.
“There’s outrage and then everybody just forgets. It fizzles out. As long as he scores goals, they don’t care. Why do we expect it to be any different this time?”
Her comments follow the television presenter Rachel Riley’s statement that she will stop following Manchester United if Mr Greenwood is not sacked.
Ms Riley wrote online: “It would be devastating for my club to contribute to a culture that brushes this under the carpet and send a message to perpetrators everywhere that you can continue to act as you wish with no consequences. I really hope they do the right thing.”
Mr Greenwood was due to go on trial in November for attempted rape, assault, and coercive and controlling behaviour. But the charges against him were dropped in February, with the Crown Prosecution Service saying that “the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light meant there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction”.
Manchester United said they had gathered “extensive evidence and context not in the public domain” and spoke to “numerous people with direct involvement or knowledge of the case”. They have also been planning to consult their women’s team.
Ms Jhooti said that misogyny remains too prevalent among fans attending men’s football matches and that team rivalries are often an excuse for women to be abused in threatening ways.
She said: “When Man United played Arsenal in the FA Cup final in Wales [in 2005], my Arsenal friend gave me a ticket and an Arsenal shirt to wear. Afterwards I was going to Manchester to meet my husband, so I rocked up on a Manchester train with this Arsenal shirt on. I walked on and this guy said: ‘Are you f**king taking the piss, love? If you get on this train, we’re gonna rape you.’”
Read Permi Jhooti’s full interview with i here
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