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Fenerbahce forward Mason Greenwood faced boos throughout the Aston Villa match in his first appearance in England since January 2022.
Fenerbahce forward Mason Greenwood faced a hostile reception from Aston Villa supporters during Wednesday's UEFA Champions League clash at Villa Park, with the English player repeatedly booed as he returned to play in his home country for the first time in more than four years.
The protests began when Greenwood's name was announced before kickoff and continued throughout the match, with home supporters jeering whenever the 25-year-old touched the ball. Fenerbahce eventually suffered a 6-0 defeat in Birmingham.
The reaction came amid continued controversy surrounding allegations made against Greenwood during his Manchester United career, while an earlier confrontation with Aston Villa players added another dimension to his return.
Greenwood last played a competitive match in England on Jan. 22, 2022, when Manchester United defeated West Ham United 1-0. Eight days later, he was arrested following the emergence of allegations against him.
He was subsequently charged with attempted rape, assault, and controlling or coercive behavior. However, the U.K.'s Crown Prosecution Service dropped all charges in February 2023, citing the withdrawal of key witnesses and new evidence that meant there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.
Greenwood has consistently denied wrongdoing.
Despite the criminal proceedings being discontinued, Manchester United announced that Greenwood would leave the club following an internal investigation. His potential return to the first team had also drawn criticism from supporters and fan groups.
The former England international subsequently moved to Spain's Getafe on loan before joining Marseille in France and eventually signing for Fenerbahce in July 2026.
Beyond the controversy surrounding his departure from Manchester United, Greenwood had previously been involved in a heated confrontation with Aston Villa players during a preseason friendly on Aug. 9, 2025.
According to The Athletic, the incident began when Greenwood fouled and pushed Villa midfielder Amadou Onana while laughing, prompting defender Tyrone Mings to confront him.
Mings grabbed Greenwood's shirt, tearing it and triggering a confrontation involving several players. Greenwood was eventually substituted and left the pitch without his shirt.
Marseille won the friendly 3-1, with Greenwood scoring his team's opening goal.
However, British media reports linked the hostile reception at Villa Park primarily to Greenwood's earlier criminal case rather than attributing the protests solely to the preseason confrontation.
Greenwood joined Fenerbahce after two seasons at Marseille, where he finished joint-second in the French Ligue 1 scoring standings last season with 16 league goals.
According to The Athletic, the transfer was worth an initial €39 million ($45 million approximately), plus potential bonuses, with Manchester United and Getafe entitled to shares of the proceeds under earlier agreements.
His arrival in Istanbul was broadly welcomed by Fenerbahce supporters, although some criticism emerged over his past allegations.
Speaking before Wednesday's match, Aston Villa defender Matty Cash acknowledged Greenwood's attacking ability and suggested the forward would be eager to prove himself on his return to England.
Nevertheless, his first competitive appearance on English soil since 2022 highlighted the continuing divisions surrounding the player's career, as Villa supporters maintained their protests throughout the Champions League encounter.
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