How mega clubs deal with sexual abuse allegations is bigger than sport

Opinion by Lindsay Sarah Krasnoff

Updated 1647 GMT (0047 HKT) February 4, 2022

Lindsay Sarah Krasnoff is an international sports writer, historian and consultant. She is the author of «The Making of Les Bleus: Sport in France, 1958-2010.» The views expressed in this commentary are her own. View more opinion on CNN.

(CNN)This week's news that 20-year-old English football player Mason Greenwood has been arrested on suspicion of the rape and assault of a woman raises the question of whether the young star will be treated with kid gloves by the football industry, as many other high-profile athletes have been in the past.

Lindsay Sarah KrasnoffUntil his arrest on Sunday, Manchester United forward Greenwood enjoyed a charmed narrative as the side's «superstar in the making.» Greenwood has not yet responded to the allegations. However, United was quick to react, barring Greenwood from training or playing with the club until further notice. Nike, to its credit, has suspended its relationship with Greenwood, and EA Sports removed him from its FIFA 22 game. Despite such swift reactions, all too often sport turns a blind eye when it comes to allegations that its biggest money-generating stars have committed crimes. In Scotland, Raith Rovers admitted on Thursday it «got it wrong» by signing striker David Goodwillie, who in 2017 was ruled in a civil case to have raped a woman along with a former teammate. Goodwillie said at the time he was devastated by the judge's opinion. Read MoreThe signing earlier this week caused widespread outrage. «Footballers are role models — particularly for young people — and it's not OK to have someone in this position who has been found by a senior judge to be a rapist,» the charity Rape Crisis Scotland