Manchester United defender is set to be available for the club’s match against Newcastle tonight despite being handed a suspended sentence by Greek authorities on Wednesday.
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire will appeal to Greece’s Supreme Court after a 15-month suspended sentence was imposed on Wednesday in relation to an incident in Mykonos in 2020.
The Press Association understands Maguire intends to challenge the sentence, which was reduced in length from an initial 21-month sentence imposed in 2020.
Maguire’s legal team had been fighting to clear his name for the best part of six years. A panel of judges decided to uphold his conviction on Wednesday, but his original sentence was reduced to 15 months and 20 days and he was fined €1,500.
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The decision to appeal to a higher court will have the effect of quashing this new judgment, as was the case when Maguire appealed against the first sentence in 2020.
Sources close to the player said Maguire and his legal representatives had rejected multiple efforts to settle the case out of court with a financial offer – including one made during the recess in Wednesday’s hearing – because he is committed to proving his innocence.
It is understood Maguire did not attend the hearing in Greece and is available for United’s match against Newcastle on Wednesday evening.
Sources close to the player said there were no travel restrictions on Maguire, which means as things stand he would be eligible to be part of England’s World Cup squad this summer.
Maguire was initially found guilty in 2020 of assaulting a police officer, swearing, resisting arrest and attempted bribery. According to reports, Wednesday’s 15-month suspended sentence was imposed for non-serious assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery.
Maguire claimed that his younger sister, Daisy, was approached by two men, injected with an unknown substance and began drifting in and out of consciousness. He attempted to get her to a hospital but was instead taken to a police station, where he alleged he was beaten on the legs by uniformed men who he believed were impersonating officers.
Fearing he had been caught up in a kidnap attempt, he tried to flee but was apprehended and spent two nights in custody. The 32‑year‑old defender has denied any bribery accusations and rejects claims that he said: ‘Do you know who I am?’, as prosecutors alleged
Maguire is yet to comment following Wednesday’s sentencing, but told the BBC in August 2020 he was “scared for his life” and was concerned he, along with his family and friends, were being kidnapped.
“We got down on our knees, we put our hands in the air, they just started hitting us,” Maguire told BBC Sport.
“They were hitting my leg saying my career’s over: ‘No more football. You won’t play again’.
“And at this point I thought there is no chance these are police or I don’t know who they are, so I tried to run away, I was in that much of a panic, fear, scared for my life. All the way through it.”
Maguire’s brother, Joe, was acquitted of attempted bribery. However, the appeals court upheld charges of aggravated assault and verbal abuse of the police.
Manchester United have been approached for comment.
