Sack your PR! A convicted pedophile a guest of honor for Manchester United

In May, the future looked so rosy. Manchester United was on the verge of sale and a huge transfer budget was bound to be given by the new owners to coach Erik ten Hag and then he would improve the squad in order to finally challenge arch-rivals Manchester City for the Premier League title. But just months later, the situation is dire. The Glazer family apparently changed their mind and pulled out the club from the transfer market, United cannot win away and already lost two games (and won two, but with great pain) and Antony scandal threatens to ruin club's reputation even further. But wait, there is more. They just committed another serious PR mistake, after inviting a convicted pedophile to be the guest of honor.

First it was Mason Greenwood affair, which ended with his loan deal to Getafe (even thou he was proclaimed innocent by the court) and then the club reacted mildly to accusations of a domestic violence in which Antony was the main protagonist (Brazil international team already suspended him), and now this. As reported by the England press, celebrated women's coach Geoff Konopka was invited by Manchester United a special guest last year in a match which was attended by thousands of children and was celebrated for his early involvement in women's football. Konopka attended a Women's Super League game in March last year where he watched United face off against Everton at home. United even commemorated his career and featured him in the Old Trafford museum.

After Greenwood, Antony is the next one accused of domestic violence

This gesture would be perfectly fine, if Konopka was not a convicted pedophile! As The Times reported, Konopka, who was in charge of the Manchester United Ladies from 1983 until 2001, 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. He was also put on the sex offenders' register for a decade. Several former United Ladies players alerted the club of Konopka's convictions and sent emails to the club's safeguarding coordinator after he was featured in promotional article on United's website in July and now they wanted a public apology.

Deja vu at Old Trafford

The club then deleted the article highlighting Konopka's successes on Tuesday and all mention of the former manager has reportedly been erased from museum displays.

“Manchester United has 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. 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“ the club said in a statement to Times.