The distressing images and audio posted on social media of a young woman bloodied and bruised could not be ignored.
And no matter how valuable Mason Greenwood is – or how prodigious his talent - such allegations are so much bigger than that.
“We are aware of images and allegations circulating on social media, said a United spokesperson. “We will not make any further comment until the facts have been established. Manchester United do not condone violence of any kind.
That, in itself, was a bold move and acknowledgement of the situation.
Rumours and sordid allegations swirl around on social media on a near-daily basis. It is the nature of the modern world, of high definition cameras on phones and the power of just about anybody who owns one to become a global publisher.
Fabulously wealthy young people, not just elite footballers, know their moves can be constantly tracked and they have teams of handlers dedicated to dealing with problematic content.
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Esta historia es de la edición January 31, 2022 de Evening Standard.
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