Manchester United star Mason Greenwood has been arrested on suspicion rape and assault as part of an ongoing police investigation into allegations made on social media this weekend.
The 20-year-old, an England international, has also been suspended by his club and remains in police custody as enquiries continue.
It follows a post shared to Instagram featuring pictures and videos which showed a young woman, Harriet Robson with a number of injuries including a cut to her mouth which was pouring with blood and several bruises.
She also shared a disturbing audio clip in which a man believed to be Greenwood can be heard threatening her.
The posts were visible on her Instagram page this morning but have since been deleted.
A police spokesman said: ‘Greater Manchester Police was made aware earlier today (Sunday 30 January) of online social media images and videos posted by a woman reporting incidents of physical violence.
‘An investigation was launched and following enquiries we can confirm a man in his 20s has since been arrested on suspicion of rape and assault.
‘He remains in custody for questioning. Enquiries are ongoing.
‘If you’re a victim of domestic abuse, or are concerned about someone you know, please use our online reporting facility or use our LiveChat facility on our website, or call 101.
Manchester United said it was aware of the allegations while Greenwood’s sponsor Nike said the company was ‘deeply concerned’ and that it would ‘continue to monitor the situation’.
The Premier League club initially said it would not make any further comment until the facts had been established, adding: ‘Manchester United does not condone violence of any kind.’
An updated statement this afternoon said: ‘Mason Greenwood will not return to training or play matches until further notice.’
Earlier today, it is believed police officers visited the woman’s family home where her father said they had been devastated by the revelations.
He added: ‘The first thing we knew about this was at 6am this morning.
‘It is dreadful. I’m just coming to terms with it all. As a father you don’t want to know things like that happening to your daughter.
‘The police have been round and she has made a statement to them. She is completely devastated by it all.’
Greenwood has had a series of run ins with his club team following his ‘general tardiness’.
