Tension erupts on the pitch: Aston Villa's Tyrone Mings rips Mason Greenwood's jersey during a heated pre-season encounter between Marseille and Villa.
In a dramatic turn of events during the pre-season friendly between Marseille and Aston Villa on August 9, 2025, Tyrone Mings and Mason Greenwood were involved in a heated altercation. The incident was triggered by a late, reckless challenge from Greenwood on Amadou Onana, who was a teammate of Mings at Aston Villa.
Greenwood, who had previously played for Manchester United, fouled Onana after the ball had passed and laughed at him when he confronted him, which angered Mings. In response, Mings grabbed Greenwood by the shirt, tearing it down the front. Greenwood retaliated by pulling off his shirt entirely and throwing it aside.
The altercation caused a tense moment on the pitch, with players and coaches from both sides intervening before the referee issued yellow cards to Greenwood, Mings, and Onana. The incident overshadowed Marseille’s 3-1 win and became the main talking point post-match.
Reactions to the incident were mixed. Some fans praised Mings for defending his teammate, while others felt the escalation was unnecessary, particularly in a pre-season friendly. The incident sparked heated discussions between the coaches—Unai Emery for Marseille and Roberto De Zerbi for Aston Villa—seen on the sidelines, reflecting the tension from the incident.
Social media quickly echoed the divided opinions, fueling debate among supporters and commentators about player conduct and sportsmanship in friendlies. It's worth noting that Mason Greenwood, 23, last earned a cap for England five years ago while still a Manchester United player, and he has taken a step closer to switching international allegiances to Jamaica after receiving citizenship.
Interestingly, Mason Greenwood had opened the scoring for Roberto De Zerbi's Marseille during the match, but was later substituted due to the altercation. The charges against Greenwood for alleged attempted rape, assault, and coercive behavior were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service due to the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material coming to light.
Despite the controversy, the incident has not affected Unai Emery’s Aston Villa's preparations for their Premier League opener against Newcastle United. The team will face Villarreal in their final warm-up game before the much-anticipated clash.
Meanwhile, the incident has garnered support from some Aston Villa fans, with many praising Tyrone Mings for his quick defense of his team-mate. Some fans even declared Tyrone Mings as their new favorite player, while others increased their respect for him.
This incident serves as a reminder of the passion and intensity that can sometimes boil over in football, even during pre-season friendlies. As the season approaches, fans and players alike will be eager to see how this incident affects the upcoming Premier League matches.
[1]: News Source 1 [2]: News Source 2
- Due to his vigorous defense of teammate Amadou Onana during a pre-season friendly against Marseille, Tyrone Mings received praise from Aston Villa fans, with some Even declaring him their new favorite player, as reported by News Source 1.
- Despite being involved in a controversial altercation during a pre-season friendly match that overshadowed Marseille's 3-1 win, Mason Greenwood still managed to score for Roberto De Zerbi's team before being substituted, as detailed by News Source 2.
