Manchester United stand by Harry Maguire after 21-month suspended sentence was handed to club captain by Greek court as they call for a ‘full and fair hearing’ and reveal defender’s legal team WILL appeal guilty verdict
- Manchester United have released a statement following Harry Maguire’s verdict
- The club captain faced four charges from Greek authorities: assault, verbal abuse, assaulting police and attempted bribery. He was found guilty on all four
- Maguire has denied the charges against him and the club said he will now appeal
- United want a ‘full and fair hearing’ as Maguire intends to appeal his sentence
Manchester United have revealed that the guilty verdict handed to club captain Harry Maguire by a Greek court will be appealed as they call for a ‘full and fair hearing’ into the defender’s case.
Maguire, 27, was found guilty of assaulting police, verbal abuse, and attempted bribery after an alleged fight last Friday while he was on holiday in Mykonos. He has denied all the charges against him.
The verdict arrived just hours after Maguire received the backing of England manager Gareth Southgate, who this afternoon named him in his next international squad.
Manchester United will stand by captain Harry Maguire following his guilty verdict in Greece
The £80m defender was given a 21-month suspended sentence was found guilty of assaulting police, verbal abuse, and attempted bribery while on holiday in Mykonos last week
The United centre back was handed a 21-month and 10 day suspended sentence and the club noted his legal team will now lodge an appeal due to the amount of evidence they have.
A club statement following the verdict read: ‘Manchester United notes the verdict of the Greek court today.
‘Harry Maguire pleaded not guilty to all of the misdemeanour charges made against him and he continues to strongly assert his innocence.
The defender took the opportunity to go abroad after United exited the Europa League
‘It should be noted that the prosecution confirmed the charges and provided their evidence late on the day before the trial, giving the defence team minimal time to digest them and prepare.
‘A request for the case to be adjourned was subsequently denied.
‘On this basis, along with the substantial body of evidence refuting the charges, Harry Maguire’s legal team will now appeal the verdict, to allow a full and fair hearing at a later date.’
Maguire’s brother Joe who plays for non-league team Ilkeston Town, was also found guilty of assault, attacking police and attempted bribery while a third man, 29-year-old Christopher Sharman, was guilty of two assault charges and another of verbal abuse.
All three denied the charges based on the evidence of four policemen.
United have detailed how Maguire will appeal and they have called for a ‘full and fair hearing’
Maguire joined Manchester United last summer for a record £80million figure from Leicester City.
He quickly made an impression on the side and was appointed captain in January when Ashley Young left for Inter Milan. His place as captain now appears to be in jeopardy.
Maguire played 55 games for United and another six for England last season — a total of 5,502 minutes, more than any other player in Europe, and so he chose an off-season trip to Mykonos, Greece, with fiancee Fern Hawkins, sister Daisy and a number of close friends.
