‘Die Mason Greenwood!’ – Osasuna face punishment after Getafe chants
Robin Bairner
- 18 Sept 2023 08:06 BST
- 4 min read
LaLiga side Osasuna face punishment after their fans aimed chants at Getafe’s on-loan Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood.
Greenwood made his Getafe debut on Sunday as a substitute in a 3-2 home victory over the Pamplona side.
It was inevitably an appearance that sparked a good deal of controversy, with the England international striker have been shipped out on loan to Spain after charges against him for attempted rape, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and controlling and coercive behaviour were dropped earlier in 2023.
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Man Utd pardoned the striker but claimed they could no longer keep him on their books and moved him on loan to Getafe for the season.
Greenwood played the last 13 minutes of the weekend fixture, which was his first competitive action in 20 months.
His appearance, though, was met by anger from Osasuna fans, who were heard chanting: “Die Mason Greenwood!”
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According to The Athletic, a legal process against the team will now begin.
Osasuna coach Jogoba Arrasate said after the fixture: ““The chants of ‘F*** Osasuna’ were very bad and the chants against Greenwood were very bad too.
“He is a player who, in the end, the justice system had its say. He is a very good player. But if we talk about chants, we should talk about all the chants, not just some.”
’Greenwood return good for football,’ says Getafe coach
Getafe boss Jose Bordalas commented after the match: "What happened and what people say is something we’re not part of. As I said after the Real Madrid game, we can only talk about sporting issues and we’re happy there. We think this loan is good for him, good for Getafe and good for football.
“We’re pleasantly surprised by him. Today was a difficult game that was very back and forth. He helped us in attack and in defence too. He showed solidarity with his team, and he surprised us physically.
“I imagine today will have been special for him and he will have the satisfaction of feeling like a footballer again. What a footballer wants is to compete, to play.
“I only talk about the sporting side of things. Today what I take with me is the expectation of the fans, because he is a great player. We are happy [with him]. He has integrated well, taking into account how little time he has been here. His behaviour has been very good.”
Getafe play Real Sociedad away next Sunday in what could be Greenwood’s first away match since charges against him were dropped.
