Manchester United made an egregious error when they invited a convicted pedophile to Old Trafford as a “special guest” before discovering his crimes.
Geoff Konopka was the manager of United’s first women’s team from 1983 to 2001. Back in 2011, he was sentenced to four years in prison and placed on the sex offenders’ register for a decade, after being found guilty of 19 counts of indecent assault and gross indecency against girls under 16 years old.
For some unknown reason, Konopka was invited to a WSL game as the clubs’ special guest to watch the women’s team play Everton at home last season. The 79-year-old was in the midst of a Women’s Super League match against Everton, where many children were among the 20,000 spectators, despite having an “active suspension” on the Football Association’s safeguarding system which prohibited him from working in the game.
“However, he was invited by United to attend the women’s team’s fixture against Everton in March 2022, the first WSL match to be held at Old Trafford. He was also featured positively in a profile of United’s history in the women’s game published on the club’s website in July of last year.”
United say they were unaware of Konopka’s past when he was invited to the match, and they have now cut all ties.
Former players had emailed United officials to express “disgust” at seeing pictures of Konopka on the club’s website last summer.
The club issued a statement on Thursday, stating it recently “received information around these convictions and as a matter of urgency has been in contact with the relevant legal and football authorities to substantiate the facts.
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“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.”
Konopka told The Times his crimes were “historical” and took place 30 years before his sentencing, before he worked at Manchester United on a voluntary basis.
