Mason Greenwood has been accused of spitting at Aston Villa’s Amadou Onana throughout a heated pre-season conflict in France — moments earlier than the previous Manchester United striker turned concerned in a tussle with Tyrone Mings that left the Marseille ahead’s shirt in tatters.
The flashpoint got here within the 87th minute of Saturday’s pre-season pleasant on the Stade Vwlodrome after Greenwood fouled Onana, shoved the midfielder as he obtained again to his ft after which tangled with Mings. Greenwood’s shirt was ripped because the pair grappled.
Based on The Sun, Villa’s gamers have been stated to be livid as a result of Greenwood is alleged to have spat at Onana shortly earlier than Mings intervened.
Footage seems to point out Onana react as if one thing touched his face, earlier than later complaining to the referee about one thing, though it isn’t clear sufficient to definitively show Greenwood spat at him.
All three gamers — Greenwood, Mings and Onana — have been booked, earlier than Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi swiftly substituted Greenwood.
The confrontation capped a bad-tempered finale that additionally noticed De Zerbi and Villa supervisor Unai Emery conflict on the touchline after a late problem on former Marseille midfielder Boubacar Kamara.
Marseille ahead Mason Greenwood (centre) has been accused of spitting at Amadou Onana
The alleged incident is claimed to have occurred shortly after Greenwood had fouled Onana
Onana appeared very sad with Greenwood however there was no clear proof that he spat at him
It’s understood that Villa usually are not anticipated to push for additional motion, and any sanction would depend upon whether or not the referee recorded the alleged spitting in his match report back to the French FA. UEFA is not going to intervene because the fixture was a pleasant.
Marseille gained Saturday’s sport 3-1 due to a second-half brace from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who struck twice after coming off the bench.
Greenwood had earlier opened the scoring earlier than Villa captain John McGinn levelled to make it 1-1 at half-time.
The match was billed as a key a part of either side’ pre-season preparations, with Marseille looking forward to their Ligue 1 opener at Rennes on Friday and Villa fine-tuning forward of going through Newcastle within the Premier League subsequent weekend.
Greenwood, 23, has been in prolific kind this summer season after scoring 22 objectives in all competitions final season — his first marketing campaign in France since leaving Manchester United in a £27million deal.
He additionally discovered the web in opposition to Sevilla final weekend and hit a hat-trick in opposition to Dutch facet Excelsior Maassluis in July.
Marseille sporting director Mehdi Benatia moved earlier this month to quash hypothesis linking Greenwood with a transfer to Saudi Arabia, insisting: ‘Greenwood will stick with us. He isn’t on the market. We wish to hold him and think about him a key a part of OM’s undertaking for the upcoming season.’
Benatia’s feedback got here amid studies that a number of Saudi Professional League golf equipment have been weighing up bids for the previous England worldwide, who has rapidly change into a central determine for De Zerbi’s facet.
Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings (second proper) grabbed Greenwood and ripped his shirt
Greenwood was among the many goalscorers in Saturday’s ‘pleasant’ sport, which Marseille gained 3-1
The ex-Brighton boss has publicly praised Greenwood in latest months, describing him in April as ‘a pure expertise’ and insisting he might be remembered ‘as top-of-the-line to ever play on the Stade Velodrome.’
Greenwood final performed for Man United in January 2022, shortly earlier than his arrest on suspicion of rape and assault. He was subsequently charged with tried rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault occasioning precise bodily hurt.
However all prices in opposition to him have been dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service in February 2023 after the withdrawal of key witnesses and new proof coming to gentle.
He spent the 2023-24 season on mortgage at Getafe, scoring 10 objectives in 36 appearances, earlier than becoming a member of Marseille on a everlasting foundation final summer season. United are understood to have inserted a 50 per cent sell-on clause into the settlement.
