Greenwood, L’Equipe’s apologies

Mason Greenwood, the new OM striker, was the subject of a focus by L’Equipe which provoked the indignation of a part of its readership.

” OM-Greenwood, unconditional love ». Tuesday, August 27, the front page of L’Equipe is dedicated to the new offensive asset of the Marseillais – a Mason Greenwood who already has three goals in Ligue 1, after two outings in the sky and white jersey. This with a title betraying the player’s past, perpetrator of domestic violence against his partner in January 2022.

Inevitably, criticisms poured in on social media, deploring the editorial bias of the sports daily. The press echoed this in its editorials, and in particular Libération in a no-holds-barred post entitled: ” L’Equipe and unconditional love for Mason Greenwood: behind a distressing title, the minimization of domestic violence.”

L’Equipe says it is sad and sorry

Faced with the outcry thus provoked, L’Equipe acknowledged its alleged error, and this is rare enough to be underlined. Our Tuesday cover story about Mason Greenwood sparked a lot of outrage. When a cover story is so misunderstood, it’s a failure.recognizes the publication concerned.

The idea was to describe in three pages (including the front page) how Mason Greenwood had succeeded in his sporting debut with OM, and how his three goals in two matches earned him “the unconditional love” of his club and a very large majority of its supporters. “Even if it meant forgetting an affair that continues to tarnish his reputation at home, in Manchester,” recalled the front page subtitle. »

And L’Equipe clearly stated its position on the controversy. This “love” is not and has never been ours. Beyond the Greenwood case, the fight against all forms of violence against women has been ours for a long time. We have devoted many topics to it on the site, the magazine, the channel and the newspaper, including on the front page. On the front page on Monday, we unfortunately did not find the right words to continue this essential fight, on and off the field. This makes us sad and sorry. » OM poached the player who had become persona non grata at Manchester United this summer for 30 million euros. Although the charges were quickly dropped by his partner, with whom he has since started a family, Mason Greenwood has never worn the Red Devils colours again. The player was notably loaned for six months to Getafe last season.