Man Utd take urgent action after 'paedophile invited as guest of honour' at Old Trafford
Man Utd have released a statement after paedophile Geoff Konopka was invited to the club as a guest of honour
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Manchester United have issued a statement after a report said paedophile Geoff Konopka was invited to the club as a guest of honour.
It emerged on Thursday that the 79-year-old was sentenced to four years in prison in 2011 after being convicted of indecent assault and gross indecency against girls aged under 16 and 14.
It was also said that, last year, he was invited by the club to visit as a 'special guest'.
Konopka attended a match, it's claimed, between United and Everton's Women's teams.
Man Utd say they have contacted the relevant legal and football authorities 'as a matter of urgency'
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And United have now released a statement confirming they have contacted the relevant legal and football authorities 'as a matter of urgency'.
"Manchester United has recently received information around these convictions," they said.
"And as a matter of urgency has been in contact with the relevant legal and football authorities to substantiate the facts.
"The club has taken appropriate action after receiving this information and will have no further connection with the individual.
"Manchester United expresses its heartfelt sympathy to the victims and all those affected by these abhorrent crimes."
United say that, for legal reasons, the relevant authorities are unable to verify the convictions.
The club also insist they took appropriate action to remove reference to the individual on club channels, too.
United accept Konopka's attendance at Old Trafford wouldn't have been allowed had the current information been known.
However, they insist it is incorrect to suggest the attendance was a breach of safeguarding regulations.
A report from The Times said that Konopoka had been 'in charge' of Manchester United Ladies from 1983 until 2001.
But the club have set the record straight and say he was never a member of staff.
Instead, like all those involved at that time, he was an unpaid volunteer with the club - having no official involvement or oversight in the running of the team.
They also stress that Konopka left his role at United 10 years before the alleged convictions.
Manchester United Ladies dissolved in 2005, the same year the Red Devils were taken over by the much-maligned Glazer family.
Manchester United Women were re-formed in 2018 and have gone from strength to strength in the time since.
An online article posted by United previously highlighted the success of 'Konopka's Reds' when he was involved with the Ladies team.
And the report from The Times also says that former players demanded a public apology from the club.
An email reportedly said: “These women who have finally had their moment have been tainted by this disgusting human.
"Give them their true moment to shine. Name them individually so they get their moment they so deserve.
"Let them tell you the real stories of the hardship and grit they had to get to the stage they did for the love of the game.”
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Man Utd 'expresses its heartfelt sympathy to the victims and all those affected by these abhorrent crimes'
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Another email said: “The women’s game is ever evolving and there are a lot of vulnerable girls wanting to pursue their dreams who will be reading and looking at your website and possibly looking at him as a role model.
"I am sickened and disgusted to see this vile man online.”
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